What Are Vaccines?

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Vaccination and Immunization

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reinforces, “Disease prevention is the key to public health,” and vaccination is a reliable, cost-effective way of reducing the risk of contracting a specific disease. Mumps, measles, whooping cough, tetanus and polio: These once prevalent diseases have all been brought under control through the widespread use of vaccination.

What Are Vaccines?

A vaccine is a substance administered to a patient to produce an immune response to a specific disease. The substance usually contains a pathogen in a dose small enough to produce immunity without producing infection. Learn more about what vaccines are in this section.

Top Sites for Vaccines and Immunizations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an extensive vaccinations portal where consumers can learn about government guidelines for immunization. In addition to immunization schedules, there are recommendations, answers to common questions, overviews of laws and more.
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World Health Organization provides an introduction to vaccination from more of a global perspective. Find links to various WHO information pages on all aspects of vaccination.
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MedlinePlus is a service provided by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Its vaccine page offers links to vetted sources of information on vaccine basics, research, reference and more.
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Childhood Immunizations

The strategy against preventing disease begins with childhood immunizations. Find sites that overview the vaccination process and detail the vaccination schedule designed to keep children healthy.

Top Sites for Childhood Immunizations

FamilyDoctor.org is operated by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Learn what childhood vaccinations are, and why children need them.
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KidsHealth provides extensive information on childhood vaccines and the different diseases they protect against. The site is part of the Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides immunization schedules and guidelines for children up to 18 years old. It specifies at what age a child should receive each vaccine, and how to get on track if your child has missed a scheduled vaccine.
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MedlinePlus offers a comprehensive selection of links to information about childhood immunizations.
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Mayo Clinic debunks five widely propagated and potentially hazardous myths regarding childhood immunization.
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Adult Immunization

A person’s need for vaccination doesn’t end after adolescence. Learn why experts say keeping up with an adult immunization schedule is important; find immunization schedules and more in this section.

Top Sites for Adult Immunization

WebMD offers an overview of adult immunization that includes background on recommended vaccinations.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers adults an immunization schedule with up-to-date recommendations. If you’re a pregnant woman, a parent, a health care worker or a member of another group that may have special immunization requirements, CDC has specific information for you.
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Consumer Reports published a chart detailing the 10 vaccines that adults need to receive. It outlines the vaccine and dosing schedule, who needs it, the consequences of the disease, the potential side effects of the vaccine and its efficacy.
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Recent studies have found that adults are not keeping up with their vaccinations, and that doctors could do more to reinforce their importance. American Medical News reports on an initiative by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases that aims to help doctors push the message.
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Travel Vaccinations

Travelers heading abroad are often encouraged or required to receive specific vaccinations before reaching their destination. In this section, learn what travel vaccinations you should receive before visiting different parts of the world, and find general travel health information.

Top Sites for Travel Vaccinations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers’ Health page has a checklist of “Need to Know” information about travel vaccinations. For general travel health and safety information, consult the main page of the CDC’s travel portal.
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eMedicineHealth presents an overview of immunizations and antibiotics for overseas travel.
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World Health Organization has a report on health risks to travelers that’s updated every year.
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Swine Flu Vaccine

In mid-September the FDA approved a swine flu vaccine. Supplies become available beginning in October, and will ultimately be available at up to 90,000 sites around the U.S., according to the Associated Press.

Top Sites for the Swine Flu Vaccine

U.S. Food and Drug Administration hosts an H1N1 flu virus vaccine information page with official information about the swine flu vaccine. The Influenza A (H1N1) Q&A section has the most relevant information for the general public.
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World Health Organization provides a global perspective on the H1N1 pandemic and offers updates on the vaccine and other related topics.
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After the White House released a report estimating that up to 90,000 people could die from swine flu this fall, the CDC launched an aggressive H1N1 vaccination campaign.
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