What are immunizations?

Immunizations are shots that are given to help protect you from different diseases. More specifically, immunizations expose your body to molecules that are foreign to the body in order to create an immune response so the body can quickly respond to another exposure to that same infection.

An immunization, also called a vaccination, is a way to keep you from getting a disease. The medicine causes your body to make antibodies that can then recognize and fight the illness if you are later exposed to it.

Besides keeping you from getting sick, immunizations also help reduce the spread of disease to others and prevent epidemics.