Is vaccination really that important for newborns? My friend hasn't got it done on her son and he seems to be doing fine. But as a soon-to-be mum, I am confused. Could somebody please advise.

What are the vaccines your baby needs? 1. BCG (Bacille-Calmette-Guerin) vaccine - offers partial protection against some forms of tuberculosis and leprosy. 2. DTP vaccine, also known as DTaP / DTwP (Diptheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular/Whole Cell Pertussis Vaccine) – protects verus (1) diphtheria, an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which can lead to breathing difficulties and death; (2) tetanus, which causes rigid muscles and painful muscle spasms and can cause death; and (3) pertussis or whooping cough, which causes a cough that lasts 4 to 8 weeks and can be very dangerous in infants, causing pneumonia that leads to brain damage, seizures, and mental retardation. 3. Polio vaccine – Polio causes disability, usually characterized by a floppy limb or being unable to move.4. Hepatitis B vaccine – Children who contract hepatitis B can develop serious liver problems, such as cancer, when they’re older 5. Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) meningitis vaccine – Hib meningitis is a preventable disease, but very deadly. Children who do survive it end up with deafness, seizures, or mental retardation. ** Your doctor may offer you a pentavalent vaccine (five vaccines in one). This combines the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and HiB vaccines and is becoming more commonly available these days. 6. Pneumococoal conjugate (PCV) vaccine- Pneumococcal meningitis can develop long-term complications such as deafness or seizures, and is potentially fatal. Measles vaccine – protects against the ill effects of the disease, including malnutrition, poor mental development, and hearing and visual problems. Measles can also be fatal. 8. Rotavirus vaccine – Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis (vomiting and severe diarrhea) among children worldwide. Severe rotavirus diarrhea is especially risky for children below 2 years old. 9. Varicella vaccine - protects against chickenpox, a highly contagious disease that is very uncomfortable and sometimes serious. 10. MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella) vaccine – This 3-in-one shot protects against the symptoms and complications of measles (can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring), brain damage, and death); mumps (can lead to deafness, meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord covering), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, rare cases of sterility; and rubella or German Measles, which is more likely to cause severe problems when it infects a pregnant woman, causing miscarriage or birth defects. 11. Hepatitis A (HAV) – Not all countries require a the Hep A vaccine, but in the Philippines were poor sanitation is commonly present, your child is better off protected. While most cases are mild, severe ones are life threatening. Hep A virus can be transmitted through contaminated food or water. 12. Influenza (flu) – From 6 months of age, your baby needs a flu vaccine every year. Scientists predict the most prevalent strains every year and the annual shot protects at least three different flu virus strains.