Vaccine Preventable
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Immunization is a process that helps your body fight off diseases caused by certain viruses and bacteria by exposing your body to vaccines, usually by injections or "shots". These vaccines contain tiny amounts of material that make your immune system produce certain substances called "antibodies".
These antibodies can attack and destroy viruses and bacteria. |
Your immune system stores this information on how to make these antibodies. Later -- even many years later -- when your body is exposed to that same bacteria or virus, it "remembers" how to make these antibodies. Your body produces those antibodies again, stopping the virus or bacteria from making you sick.
There are fourteen vaccine preventable disease in British Columbia:
Last Updated: February 17, 2011