Since their discovery in the 18^th Century, vaccines have been a boon to medicine in its fight against deadly infectious diseases despite skeptical claims against it. They have controlled several and eradicated a number of infections globally. However, to be successful, sufficient numbers of people need to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of hazardous micro-organisms.

Vaccines differ from drugs as they prevent illnesses rather than tackle currently existing infections. They use a detoxified edition of a pathogen to mimic an illness in order for the body to produces immune cells against it. If the person gets infected in the future, these cells identify can identify the threat and fight it.

Major, fatal diseases have been dealt with via the administration of vaccines. In 1979, The World Health Organization announced that smallpox had been internationally wiped out, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared polio eradicated from the United States. Diseases like tetanus and whooping cough are now almost extinct, thanks to vaccines.

There have been a number of instances in the history of vaccines where clusters of skeptics questioned their safety and efficacy. One specific group named the “anti-vaxxers” alleges vaccine to cause autism and other illnesses.

Several studies and the scientific community altogether have argued these allegations, proving vaccines to be harmless in spite of producing minor adverse events like fever, allergic reactions, and fainting. The claims have been based on inconsistent studies that have been extensively discredited.