Vaccines create immunity to disease by stimulating the body's natural immune system to identify, attack, destroy and remember a known pathogen, so the next time the virus enters the body it is eradicated before any cellular damage is done. Most immunization comes in the form of a shot, but some can be administered orally or through a nasal spray. While vaccinations are believed to be 100% safe by most health experts, there are some factions who believe vaccinations needlessly make people sick or place individuals at risk.



Child health depends upon the use of vaccinations to protect the weak immune systems of babies. At birth, infants are administered their first Hepatitis B shot. They will receive two more at two months and again, at anywhere from six to eighteen months of age.

At two months, the baby will also receive immunization against: Rotavirus (Rota), Influenza (HIB), Pneumoccocal (PCV), Inactivated Polio Virus (ICV) and Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTaP). All of these shots, except HepB, must be administered again at four months and six months.

A fourth DTaP, HIB, PCV and ICV should be given from twelve to eighteen months as well. Kids can get yearly flu shots starting at six months and at one year. Babies will receive immunization against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella and their first (of two) doses for Hepatitis A.

There are several different types of vaccinations: injected, oral or nasal spray. For example, the injected Polio vaccine is a killed virus, whereas oral Polio vaccines are live, weakened viruses. Vaccinations for Measles and child health related diseases, like Mumps, Chickenpox and Rubella, are live, attenuated viruses. Vaccines for Diphtheria and Tetanus are comprised of in-activated toxins and the Influenza vaccine is made of the virus's protein coat dissolved in liquid.

In most cases, shots are given but oral immunization is available for Typhoid, Polio, Cholera and Rotavirus. There is a nasal spray vaccine available for Influenza as well.

The World Health Organization has been working on achieving global immunization coverage since 1974. From 1983 to 2003, coverage against Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis was up from 20% to 78% worldwide. However, 9.9 million poor children living in remote areas of South Asia and 9.6 million children living in sub-Saharan Africa are in need of vaccines.

It is estimated that 2.1 million people die around the world of preventable diseases, including 1.4 million children under the age of five years. The WHO health experts say most of the childhood deaths (500,000) are from Measles, with an additional 400,000 deaths from Hib, 300,000 deaths from Pertussis and 180,000 neonatal Tetanus fatalities. While there have been many amazing achievements and scientific breakthroughs, there is still a long road to travel in obtaining cost-efficient coverage for everyone.