Final answer:
The statement that best describes vaccines is that they stimulate the immune system to provide protection against specific pathogens. Vaccines expose the immune system to antigens or weakened forms of pathogens, prompting the creation of memory cells for faster and more effective responses if exposed to the pathogen again.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vaccines and Their Functions
The correct answer to the question is: c) They stimulate the immune system to provide protection against specific pathogens. Vaccines are designed to prevent diseases before they occur. Contrary to antibiotics which treat bacterial infections, vaccines work by exposing the immune system to antigens or weakened forms of a virus or bacteria to stimulate an immune response. This response involves the production of memory cells, which ensure that the immune system can recognize and respond more efficiently to future exposures to the pathogen. Vaccines can be made from live attenuated viruses, killed viruses, or molecular subunits of the virus. Vaccines are an essential part of public health and have been instrumental in controlling and eliminating many infectious diseases.