Diseases spread through communities by infecting people who are not protected, such as those who are not immunized or not fully immunized. Immunizations help to protect a community from diseases that vaccines can prevent. For some highly contagious diseases, even a small number of unimmunized or under-immunized people can lead to an outbreak of disease. The rates of immunization in a community have a direct effect on outbreaks.
Immunizing your child is one of the most important things you can do to protect your child, your family, and your community from diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. This section will give you the facts about immunizations so you can make the best decision for your family.