# vaccination

/væksəˈneɪʃən/ (US) · /vˌæksɪnˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vaccination
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

the act of getting a medical treatment, usually a needle, to protect you from a specific disease. It helps your body learn how to fight off germs before you get sick.

For teachers: the administration of a vaccine to stimulate an individual's immune system to develop adaptive immunity against a specific pathogen.

## Examples

- The doctor gives the vaccination in the upper arm.
- Public health officials recommend a flu vaccination every autumn to protect against the most common seasonal strains.
- Widespread vaccination programs have successfully eradicated smallpox and significantly reduced the global incidence of polio, demonstrating the efficacy of collective preventative medicine.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I had a vaccination for the flu" but "I had a vaccination against the flu" — While 'for' is common in casual speech, 'against' is the more precise preposition for protection from a disease.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the general practice or medical concept; countable when referring to a specific instance or type of shot.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.