This is not as straightforward as it sounds. It is FAIRLY easy to find accurate information on some kinds of risk (for example, common side EFFECTS of vaccines). Some comparisons are also easy to understand (for example, 1 in 5000 CHILDREN develop encephalitis as a complication of measles, but less than 1 in a million develop encephalitis as a complication of the MMR vaccine).

However, the CHANCE of GETTING a disease is more difficult to work out, because it depends on how well-protected people are in your local community. If lots of people around you are unvaccinated, there is more chance of diseases spreading quickly than if you live in an area where most people are vaccinated, and this increases the risks. See our pages on Infectious Diseases for information about the risks of each disease.

This is not as straightforward as it sounds. It is fairly easy to find accurate information on some kinds of risk (for example, common side effects of vaccines). Some comparisons are also easy to understand (for example, 1 in 5000 children develop encephalitis as a complication of measles, but less than 1 in a million develop encephalitis as a complication of the MMR vaccine).

However, the chance of getting a disease is more difficult to work out, because it depends on how well-protected people are in your local community. If lots of people around you are unvaccinated, there is more chance of diseases spreading quickly than if you live in an area where most people are vaccinated, and this increases the risks. See our pages on Infectious Diseases for information about the risks of each disease.