Children need vaccines to protect them from dangerous childhood diseases. These diseases can have serious complications and can even kill. The reasons these diseases are so rare is because vaccines are used for protection. A live vaccine is one that is made with a weakened version of the virus. It offers the most natural protection from disease besides getting the disease itself.
Some people experience a mild case of the disease after getting the vaccine.
Measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox are the live vaccines your baby should get starting at 1 year of age. The flu vaccine is made from only part of the virus that causes the infection, therefore it cannot cause you to get the disease that you are getting protected against. Vaccines are designed to cause the body to respond to an infection. The body's defenses act like they are fighting the real disease, and build up protection just like they would if someone got sick. The Vaccines for Children Program is a federally funded program that provides free or low cost shots to needy children.