| Summary: | The world around us is filled with tiny microorganisms called microbes. Most of them are harmless and many are even beneficial to us, but some microbes--called pathogens--are capable of making us sick. Our skin and mucous membranes keep a lot of these pathogens out while our immune system is responsible for fighting off those that get inside us. The human immune system has been ridding our bodies of pathogens for millions of years, but only in the last century have scientists learned enough to help give us an additional edge. Modern medicine has given us tools to aid our immune system in the fight against pathogens. Drugs like antibiotics help eliminate pathogens after they make us sick, but only vaccines are able to prepare our immune system so that many pathogens never make us sick in the first place. Despite their benefits, many people do not know how vaccines work, making some people uncomfortable and even mistrustful of vaccination. Also, many people may not realize that vaccines are not just for children; adults can benefit too! This document will tell you more about how vaccines work, why they are important, and how they can protect adults. Take some time and look it over--your immune system will thank you
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