Understanding Vaccines: What They Are, How They Work

Vaccines are crucial to maintaining public health: They are a safe, cost-effective, and efficient way to prevent sickness and death from infectious diseases. Vaccines have led to some of the greatest public health triumphs ever, including the eradication of naturally occurring smallpox from the globe and the near eradication of polio.

This booklet contains general information about vaccines
•What they are
•How they prevent disease
•How they are made and tested
•What vaccine research might achieve in the future