Before vaccines, the only way to become immune to a disease was to actually get it and, with luck, survive it.  Vaccines, which provide artificially acquired immunity, are an easier and less risky way to become immune. Vaccines can prevent a disease from occurring in the first place, rather than attempt to cure it after the fact.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has updated the recommended childhood and adolescence immunization schedule for 2014 (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html).  France Avenue Family Physicians uses this schedule as a standard of care. 

**New Immunization Laws for Schools, Child Care and Early Childhood Programs begin September 2014