Children who receive their immunizations not only protect their own health, but keep the people around them safe. Courtesy of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital

As families prepare for a new school year or routine check-up, pediatrician Nina Alfieri, MD, of Lurie Children’s says there is one simple action parents can take to protect their children: “Vaccines are a powerful tool that helps keep children safe from serious, sometimes deadly, diseases,” she said.

When children get their shots on schedule, they are not just guarding their own health, they are also helping keep their whole community healthy.

Vaccines work by teaching the body’s immune system how to recognize and fight germs.

“They contain tiny, harmless parts of a germ. Your child’s body learns to recognize these par

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