Vaccines protect us throughout life and at different ages, from birth to childhood, as teenagers and into old age. In most countries you will be given a vaccination card that tells you what vaccines you or your child have had and when the next vaccines or booster doses are due. It is important to make sure that all these vaccines are up to date.
How vaccines help fight disease Vaccines contain weakened or inactive parts of a particular organism (antigen) that triggers an immune response within the body. Other vaccines contain weakened or reconstituted virus or bacteria as a whole. Newer vaccines contain the blueprint for producing antigens (DNA or RNA) rather than the antigen itself. The Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals department is responsible for targeting vaccine-preventable diseases, guiding immunization research and establishing immunization policy.
do vaccines have formaldehyde, The TAG-CO-VAC reconvened on 6-7 May 2025 to review the genetic and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2; immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 vaccination; the performance of currently approved vaccines against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants; and the implications for COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced recommendations for the viral composition of influenza (or “flu”) vaccines for the 2026-2027 northern hemisphere influenza season. The announcement was made following a 4-day consultation examining global influenza surveillance data. Related links: Frequently Asked Questions - Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines Antigenic and genetic characteristics of zoonotic influenza A viruses and development of candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness in the 2026-2027 northern hemisphere influenza season Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2026 ... Once vaccines are introduced and used in countries, national health authorities continuously monitor vaccine safety to detect and immediately respond to potential concerns.
