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The purpose of a vaccination is to stimulate the immune system to build protection against specific diseases. Vaccines contain antigens that mimic the presence of pathogens without causing the disease itself. When an animal receives a vaccine, the immune system recognizes the antigens and triggers a response. This process helps develop memory cells that allow the immune system to respond more effectively if exposed to the actual pathogen in the future, thereby preventing or reducing the severity of the disease.

This function of vaccinations is critical for the health of individual animals as well as for controlling the spread of infectious diseases within populations, contributing to overall herd immunity. The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of vaccinations; they do not cure existing infections or guarantee weight gain, nor can they eliminate all diseases in animals. Thus, the correct answer highlights the proactive role vaccinations play in disease prevention through immune system stimulation.