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" Question What exactly are antibiotics?  Are they similar to vaccinations in that a weak version of the virus is injected into the body?   Answer No, antibiotics are not the same as vaccines.  Antibiotics are chemical agents that are used to treat bacterial infections.  They have no action on viral infections such as flu or the common cold. There are many different types of antibiotics and they act on the bacteria in different ways.  Some antibiotics act by killing the bacteria while others prevent the bacteria from multiplying, leaving your own immune system to &amp;#039;mop them up&amp;#039;. Vaccines are used to prevent infection, particularly viral infections. Vaccines are produced from portions of viruses or viruses that are rendered harmless.  The killed or modified virus is introduced into the body where it stimulates part of the body&amp;#039;s natural defences against infection without causing the illness itself.  Because of this, if the body is exposed to the specific virus in the future, it will recognise it and can fight the infection off much more quickly and effectively, meaning that you don&amp;#039;t succumb to the illness. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team   Other Qs &amp;amp; As Can adults get mumps Can an inner ear infection damage my brain? Can collidial silver cure molluscum? Can I drink while taking antibiotics? Can I drink whilst taking amoxicillin? Could I have psitticosis? Czech tick &amp;amp;#8211; what is this insect buried in my leg? Do I have to take antibiotics against cystitis? Does doxycycline affect hearing? Enlargements around the neck Erythema mulitforme &amp;amp;#8211; cause and prevention Have I got bedbugs? Homeopathic treatments for verrucas How long does a BCG last? I want to live in India, but I&amp;#039;ve had a spleenectomy. Long term antibiotics after spleen operation Laporoscopy stitches not healing properly Painful reaction with travel jabs Post-polio syndrome Receding gums Recurrent infections under my fingertips Should I get a hepatitis vaccination? Should my father have his wrists fused? Stubborn verrucas Throat infections for four months &amp;amp;#8211; what can I do? Treating persistent giardia What are the early signs of BSE? What are the long-term consequences of a splenectomy? What is a pilonidal sinus? What is ESR? What is giardia infection? What is giardia lamblia? What is phlebitis? What is slapped cheek disease? What issues surround rubella in the middle aged? What would raised blood urea nitrogen be like? What&amp;#039;s the difference between pneumonia and pleurisy? Which vaccinations should I have? Who&amp;#039;s got the worm? Why is my stepson passing blood in his urine? Why haven&amp;#039;t I responded to the hepatitis B vaccine? Will L-lysine ease my cold sores? Yellow fever   Last updated 12.02.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/infections/a5392/antibiotics-and-vaccines/>