vaccination

American  

[vak-suh-ney-shuhn] / ˌvæk səˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

• vaccinations
  plural

1. the act or practice of vaccinating; inoculation with a vaccine.

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vaccination British  

/ ˌvæksɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of vaccinating

2. the scar left following inoculation with a vaccine

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vaccination Scientific  

/ văk′sə-nā′shən /

1. Inoculation with a vaccine in order to protect against a particular disease.

2. A scar left on the skin by vaccinating.

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vaccination Cultural  

1. Inoculation with a vaccine to produce immunity to a particular infectious disease.

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Usage

What’s the difference between vaccination, inoculation, and immunization? In the context of medicine, the words vaccination, inoculation, and immunization are often used in overlapping ways, and for good reason—they all involve the process of introducing a substance (especially a vaccine) into a person’s body with the goal of preventing them from getting a particular disease. Vaccination is the most specific of the three terms, because it always involves introducing a vaccine, which usually consists of a small amount of a killed, weakened, or otherwise modified version of a disease (such as a virus or bacterium). While inoculation has other meanings outside the context of medicine, in modern healthcare it’s typically used interchangeably with vaccination (though it’s used less commonly). Immunization is slightly different—it refers to the process of providing immunity from a specific disease. While the goal of vaccinating someone is often to immunize them, not all vaccines provide permanent immunity. Some vaccines provide what amounts to long-term immunity, while others only lead to a temporary protection, after which the body “forgets” how to make certain antibodies. In these cases, a booster shot or dose is often required, consisting of a follow-up vaccination to boost or renew the protection gained from the earlier vaccination. Both vaccination and inoculation can refer to a shot or dose, as opposed to the process of providing or receiving such doses, as in I’m scheduled to get a vaccination on Friday. The word immunization can be used in the same way to refer to such a vaccination when it’s one that provides immunity, as in Have you received all of your immunizations?Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between vaccinate, inoculate, and immunize.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonvaccination
  noun
• prevaccination
  noun
• revaccination
  noun
• antivaccination
  adjective
• postvaccination
  adjective
• provaccination
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• vaccinations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vaccination

First recorded in 1800–10; vaccine + -ation

Compare meaning

How does vaccination compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• inoculation vs. vaccination
• vaccination vs. immunization

Explanation

Vaccination is the act of getting a shot (a vaccine) to protect you against a certain disease. If you want to protect yourself from catching the mumps, you will need to undergo a vaccination. If you've ever gotten a bad cut or stepped on rusty metal, your doctor has probably asked when you last had a Tetanus shot. A Tetanus shot is a vaccine, a protective dose of medicine that keeps you from getting sick. Some common vaccinations protect against the flu, measles, and whooping cough. The word vaccination comes from vaccine, "related to cows," because the first vaccines, developed to prevent smallpox, were made from a virus called cowpox.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vaccination vaccinations

Cassidy noted that immunity can decline during pregnancy, making community vaccination particularly important for protecting pregnant women.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

In 2013, the vaccination rate among California kindergartners hit a low of 92.3%, below the 95% threshold doctors say is needed to keep a lid on outbreaks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

Covid vaccination “has not been linked to increased health risks for pregnant women or babies,” it says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

“Use of monovalent vaccines also would increase the number of injections a child would need and increase the number of visits required to complete the vaccination series.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

As a government-appointed chief, he was eligible for a stipend as well as a portion of the fees the government levied on the community for vaccination of livestock and communal grazing land.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

“The Administration’s push to develop separate vaccinations for all three diseases ... ultimately will increase vaccination rates for all three diseases.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

States, for example, have the authority to require vaccinations for students to attend school.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

State officials continue to recommend that all individuals age 6 months and older stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

In the northern part of South Carolina, where a measles outbreak spread earlier this year, one school reported just around 20% of its students had all the required vaccinations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

I’ve never questioned the annual vaccinations we’re required to have—never had any reason to doubt them.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu