Health / A2

noun · A2

Vaccine

VAKS-een/ˈvæksiːn/

A vaccine is a medicine that protects you from a disease: a flu vaccine, have a vaccine, vaccine at the clinic. Injection or jab is how it is often given in everyday British English. Virus is what many vaccines fight. Medicine is wider. Have or get a vaccine, not “drink a vaccine”.

Meaning

A medicine given to protect you from a disease.

Examples

  • “She had a flu vaccine at the clinic.”
  • “School sent a letter about the winter flu vaccine.”
  • “He felt tired the day after the vaccine, then better.”

Good to know

have / get a vaccine. Everyday: a jab. Related: virus, clinic. Not a drink.

Near in meaning

jab

Topics

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