You asked

Do vaccines really work?

Yes - vaccines do work. Even though stories abound about people who were vaccinated, who still contract a specific disease, this is more a case of statistics, than a reflection of the efficacy of the vaccines.

The reason for this is that a small number of people who are vaccinated against a particular disease fail to build the immunity to fight off the illness. Some also ‘outgrow’ the vaccine – which is why booster shots are so important! When they are exposed to the illness in question, they can contract it. The risk of being vaccinated and still contracting a disease is around 1% – which is much lower than the risk for unvaccinated people.

Looked at slightly differently, this means that your child has a 1% risk of contracting a disease that he or she has been vaccinated against, as opposed to a 100% risk for an unvaccinated person who comes into contact with that disease. So while vaccines are not one hundred percent fool proof, they definitely increase your odds, and your child’s odds, of avoiding disease.

More questions

Your child's baby teeth are still very important as they need them to be able to chew food and speak clearly.
A cold bath can actually do more harm than good to a feverish child.
Many children have a mild reaction to the MMR vaccine – it’s not usually full-blown measles though, and it’s usually not serious. There are a few things to watch out for though...
Injections are necessary - the thing is to just have them and then get on with it. If needs be, have your child’s favourite toy or something else that will distract him while he has his shot.
Antibiotics do not kill viruses, such as the common cold, and by over using antibiotics, particularly when they aren’t necessary, you are weakening your child's future defences! 
In general, chewable medicines are only designed for children two years and older, who are adept at eating solid foods.
Giving any child aspirin could contribute to them getting a serious illness known as Reye’s Syndrome.
As a parent you should understand the risks associated with various different types of medication
Both ibuprofen and paracetamol are effective pain and fever treatment options for babies and children.
Choosing between a vaporiser and a humidifier is a personal choice but both help to make children feel better

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