Suitable for 6-12 year olds - Pfizer

Suitable for 6-12 year olds

Did you know your body works hard every day to
fight harmful germs (or bugs) without you even
knowing it?
Our skin stops germs or bugs entering our body unless it gets cut or is
damaged.
Inside of our nose there are lots of hairs that help trap germs or bugs
and prevent them from getting into our lungs and body.

Sometimes, these harmful germs
enter our body and can make us feel ill

However, our ‘immune        system’ fights back against any
‘stranger’ invader germs.

                        The immune system uses its defenders, called
                        white blood cells to surround any
                        ‘stranger’ germs, kill them, and make us feel
                        better.

All invading germs have distinctive markers
      on their surface known as antigens
      When the specific white blood cell comes across an invading germ, it will:
      a)   Make an antibody to match the invading antigen.
      b) Tell all the other white blood cells to make lots of that   antibody

Our immune system prevents many of these unfriendly invading germs from making us feel sick.

       So your body already has this great defence system in place!

If you've had your ‘jabs’ (also called vaccines), your body is
extra-prepared to fight off some serious illnesses that your
immune system might not be able handle very well on its own.

           Vaccines work by giving a person (baby, child, teenager or adult)
           a tiny amount of a specific disease in a non-harmful form.

           Teeny tiny defenders (known as antigens) create antibodies
           which fight the specific disease – it’s like a practice run for our body so
           that it can recognise the disease if it sees it again.

           The person becomes immunised or vaccinated – if they’re
           exposed to that disease again, the cells will be able to produce
           antibodies faster and stop the person from becoming sick.

If you've had your ‘jabs’ (also called vaccines), your body is
extra-prepared to fight off some serious illnesses that your
immune system alone might not be able handle very well

         For example, if you get the measles vaccine,
         it can protect you from getting measles if
         you're ever exposed to it in the future.

In Ireland, most babies and toddlers are
vaccinated against diseases like:1

   1. Baby and Childhood Immunisation - HSE.ie (laccessedApril 2021)

School-going children receive booster
vaccine doses in Junior Infants and First
Year of secondary school.2

A booster is an extra reminder for our body.

Children and young people aged 2 years to 17
years can also receive the influenza (flu)
vaccine from their GP or pharmacist.3
     2. School Programme - HSE.ie (accessed april 2021)
     3. Nasal flu vaccine for children - HSE.ie (accessed April 2021)

Vaccination is good for our communities.

When a lot of people are vaccinated against a particular disease
(e.g. measles), it is difficult for the disease to spread, because
there are not many people who can be infected.

So be BRAVE the next time you need to get a vaccine. It’s
     helping to protect you, your family and friends
       and helps to keep you happy and healthy!

You can help to stay healthy by doing other things like:

                                                      Washing your hands regularly to
                                                      prevent infections.

                                                      Eating good food including fruit
                                                      and vegetables.

                                                      Getting plenty of exercise.

                                                      Getting enough sleep.

                                                                                                       PP-VAC-IRL-0132
       Educational resources available at pfizer.ie                                      Date of Preparation: April 2021