How do vaccines work?

Vaccines are crucial medicines that prevent diseases by stimulating the body's immune system. Unlike treatments for existing diseases, vaccines offer immunity before diseases occur. The first vaccine was developed by Edward Jenner in the 1790s, and since then, vaccines have evolved to prevent numerous diseases. Modern vaccines save millions of lives annually. They work by activating the immune system, which produces antibodies to fight antigens. Traditional vaccines use weakened viruses, while new RNA vaccines use lab-made RNA to instruct cells to produce antigens, offering a faster response to rapidly mutating viruses.

How do vaccines help in preventing diseases compared to traditional medicines?

What advancements have been made in vaccine development in recent years?