Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infection diseases. They are the most important thing that we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent up to 3 million deaths worldwide every year.
Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or very rare.
Other diseases like measures and diphtheria have been reduced by up to 99.9% since their vaccines were introduced. However, if people stop having vaccines, it’s possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.
Vaccine hesitancy is where people with access to vaccines delay or refuse the vaccination. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently listed vaccine hesitancy as 1 of their top 10 biggest threats to global health.
How do vaccines work?
Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases. It’s much safer for your immune system to learn this thought vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them. Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can often protect you for many years.
Are vaccines safe?
All vaccines are thoroughly tested to ensure that they won’t harm you or your child. It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests it needs to pass for approval. Once a vaccine is being used in the UK it’s also monitored for any rare side effects by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
What’s in a vaccine?
Most people aren’t concerned about vaccine ingredients and know that they’re safe. The main ingredient of any vaccine is a small amount of bacteria, virus or toxin that’s been weakened or destroyed in a laboratory first; this means there’s no risk of healthy people catching a disease from a vaccine. It’s also why you might see vaccines being called live or killed vaccines.
Pneumococcal vaccine
See the Pneumococcal vaccine page for detailed information.
How safe is the vaccine?
Before they are allowed to be used, all medicines (including vaccines) are tested to assess their safety and effectiveness. Once they have been licensed for use, their safety continues to be monitored.
Vaccine allergy
Tell your GP if you, or your child, has had a bad reaction to any vaccination in the past.
If there’s been a confirmed severe allergic reaction, called an anaphylactic reaction, to the pneumococcal vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine, it may not be possible for you to have it. If it was only a mild reaction, such as a rash, it’s generally safe to have the vaccine.
Report side effects
You can report suspected side effects online on the Yellow Card website. You can also call the Yellow Card hotline on 0808 100 3352.
Where can I get more information
Visit nhs.uk for more information. You can also talk to your practice nurse or GP, or contact NHS 111.