At birth, children are immune to certain diseases as a result of antibodies that have passed through the placenta from the mother to the unborn child. Breast-fed babies continue to receive the benefits of additional antibodies in breast milk. However, immunity is only temporary. Immunization, via vaccination, is one of the best ways to protect your child from contagious diseases.
Immunization provides a way to reproduce the antibodies that infants are born with.
Vaccines stimulate the immune system into react as if there were a real infection. Due to media stories about rare instances when a child has developed complications from taking a vaccine, some parents are hesitant to have their child immunized. Millions of children get vaccines each year. To be approved, vaccines must be shown to be safe and effective. The risk of harm from getting sick is much greater than any risk from the shot itself.