Vaccines help save lives. They are the best way to help protect you or your child from getting certain diseases that are spread from person to person (infectious diseases).

They also help reduce the spread of a disease to prevent a sudden outbreak of the disease, which is called an epidemic. Preventing the spread of disease is very important for people with weak immune systems. These people may not be able to get vaccines, or vaccines don't work well for them. Their only protection is for others to get vaccinated so that infectious diseases are less common.

Here are some other reasons why vaccines are important:

• They cost less than getting treated for the disease.
• The risk of problems from getting a disease is much greater than the risk of having a serious reaction to the vaccine.
• They are often required to enroll in school or day care. And they may be required depending on your work or to travel to another country.

Keeping your child healthy at home, day care, or school

It's impossible to protect your child from all infections. But you can teach healthy habits to help reduce your child's risk of infections. Teach your child:

• To wash their hands each time they use the toilet. Teach your child to dry their hands thoroughly after washing them. Using hand sanitizers also kills germs that can cause illness.
• That germs spread when people touch their eyes, nose, and mouth before washing their hands. They should cough or sneeze into their arm or use a tissue to cover the mouth. Show your child how to hold the tissues so that drainage doesn't get on your child's hands. Tell your child to always throw away tissues in a trash can and then wash their hands.
• To use only clean, dry paper towels and tissues. Teach your child not to handle tissues or paper towels used by other children.
• Not to share hats, combs, toothbrushes, eating utensils, or other personal items with other children. Teach your child not to share food, drinks, or silverware with others.
• Not to touch other children's blood, urine, stool, or other drainage. Teach your child to tell an adult caregiver if another child is bleeding or accidentally urinates or passes a stool.

Children younger than age 2 need a caregiver's help to prevent the spread of germs. Wash your child's hands often, and disinfect shared toys. If your child attends day care, closely review the policies about sick children, hygiene issues, and being up to date on vaccinations.

If your child becomes ill, keep your child out of day care and away from other children until they are no longer contagious. If you are unsure about how long this should be, contact your doctor.

Keep your child away from secondhand smoke. Smoke irritates the mucous membranes in your child's nose, sinuses, and lungs, making infections more likely.

Keeping your child healthy in public areas

When in a public area, such as an airport or restaurant, be aware of the risk of exposure to germs that can make you and your child ill. Use these tips to help protect your child.

• Try to limit contact with people who may be sick. Avoid people with an obvious illness (such as a person who is coughing or sneezing). Don't be afraid to tell others, especially those you don't know, not to touch your child.
• Wash hands with soap and water. Do not let your child eat or touch their mouth, eyes, or nose until your child's hands are thoroughly washed with soap and water.
• Make sure the utensils, table, and general eating area are clean.
• Make sure good hygiene practices are followed if your child is in day care. These practices include regular cleaning of facilities and toys, sanitary food preparation, and proper bathroom procedures and cleaning. Also know the policies about sick children, hygiene issues, and being up to date on vaccinations.
• Try to avoid public areas in certain situations. For example, your doctor may recommend keeping your newborn or child with health problems away from large crowds during outbreaks of disease. If you have to be in a public place, have children over age 2 wear a mask.