vaccine
A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.
Specifically refers to a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease. It's a preventative measure.
Word relationships
- immunization: Immunization is the process of making someone immune; a vaccine is the substance used for immunization.
- inoculation: Inoculation is the act of introducing a vaccine or disease agent into a body to produce immunity; vaccine is the agent itself.
Commonly confused with
- antibiotic: A vaccine prevents viral/bacterial diseases; an antibiotic treats existing bacterial infections.
Word family
- vaccinate (verb): To treat with a vaccine to produce immunity.
- vaccination (noun): The act of vaccinating.
Collocations
- flu vaccine
- MMR vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccine
- vaccine development
- vaccine efficacy
Example sentences
- "The development of a new vaccine for malaria could save millions of lives." Discussing public health initiatives.
- "Children receive several routine vaccines to protect them from common infectious diseases." Referring to childhood immunization.
- "Scientists are racing to develop an effective vaccine against the novel virus." From a news headline.
Memory hook
VACCINE from VACC-a (cow) gave immunity. Cow-Immunity
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'antibiotics' (which treat bacterial infections) or 'antivirals' (which treat viral infections). Vaccines prevent disease.
Fun facts
- The eradication of smallpox in 1980 is considered one of the greatest achievements in public health, thanks to global vaccination efforts.
- The first vaccine developed was against smallpox, by Edward Jenner in 1796.
Related words
Explore more words
inoculate, inoculation, antibody, antigen, immunity, prophylactic
Also appears in
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