What to Know About Vaccines and ‘Herd Immunity’

Want to protect other people? You don't need a black belt or superpowers. Just get the vaccines your doctor recommends for you. A vaccine dramatically lowers your chances of catching and spreading an infectious disease. And when lots of people in your community get vaccinated against an illness, everyone becomes less likely to catch it.

This is called Herd Immunity. It not only prevents outbreaks. It also makes certain diseases, like measles, become rare. The protective powers of Herd immunity especially benefit pregnant women, infants, and people who can't take vaccines because of health problems that weaken their immune system. But Herd Immunity can fade if enough people choose not to get the vaccines they need. So do your community a favor-- get vaccinated.