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>> AS PARENTS WE DON'T WANT OUR CHILDREN TO PAY A HIGH PRICE FOR IMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHERE VACCINES COME IN.
VACCINES GIVE IMMUNITY WITHOUT MAKING CHILDREN SUFFER THE RISKS
OF NATURAL INFECTION.
>> LET'S CONTINUE WITH OUR EXAMPLE OF CHICKENPOX.
CHICKENPOX IS CAUSED BY A VIRUS.
CHILDREN FIRST COME INTO CONTACT WITH CHICKENPOX VIRUS
WHEN SOMEONE WHO IS INFECTED COUGHS OR SNEEZES.
THE VIRUS TRAVELS THROUGH THE AIR IN TINY DROPLETS AND LANDS
ON THE LINING OF THE NOSE OR THE BACK OF THE THROAT.
THE VIRUS THEN BEGINS TO COPY ITSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL
IT SPREADS INTO THE BLOODSTREAM AND EVENTUALLY TO THE SKIN WHERE
IT CAUSES A RASH.
HOWEVER, AS WE'VE SEEN IN SOME CHILDREN, CHICKENPOX VIRUS
DOESN'T GROW VERY WELL.
THESE CHILDREN DON'T GET VERY SICK AT ALL.
BUT HAVING BEEN EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS,
ALL OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON,
THEY ARE NOW IMMUNE TO THE DISEASE;
AND HAVING THIS IMMUNITY MEANS THAT THEY WILL NOT GET A SERIOUS
CASE OF CHICKENPOX AGAIN.
GETTING THE CHICKENPOX VACCINE IS JUST LIKE GETTING A MILD
CHICKENPOX INFECTION.
YOU GET VIRTUALLY NO SYMPTOMS AND LONG-LASTING IMMUNITY
WITHOUT HAVING TO RISK THE OCCASIONALLY SEVERE CONSEQUENCES
OF NATURAL INFECTION.