What are some common illnesses and diseases that can be prevented through vaccination and how do vaccines work?

What are some common illnesses and diseases that can be prevented through vaccination and how do vaccines work?
Some common illnesses and diseases that can be prevented through vaccination include:

1. Measles
2. Polio
3. Tetanus
4. Whooping cough (pertussis)
5. Chickenpox
6. Hepatitis A and B
7. Influenza (flu)
8. Mumps
9. Rubella (German measles)
10. HPV (Human papillomavirus)

Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to produce a response to a specific pathogen (bacteria or virus) without causing the actual disease. They often contain small amounts of weakened or inactivated pathogens or pieces of the pathogen (such as proteins), which help the immune system recognize and remember the pathogen. This provides protection against future exposure to the pathogen by boosting the body’s natural defenses and building immunity. This means that if a vaccinated person is exposed to the pathogen in the future, their body is already primed to fight off the disease, reducing the severity of the illness or preventing it altogether.