Vaccinated is a term used to describe an individual who has been immunized against a specific disease, typically through the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines are substances designed to stimulate the body's immune system to produce antibodies that will fight off a particular disease or infection. Vaccines may contain weakened or killed forms of the disease-causing microorganism, or its toxins, or only pieces of the microorganism.
The word ‘vaccinated’ is derived from the Latin word 'vaccinus' which means 'of or from cows.' This is because the first successful vaccine was developed by Edward Jenner in 1796 and was based on the cowpox virus. He injected a boy with cowpox and then later exposed him to smallpox – a much more serious disease – and the boy did not catch it. This proved that the body had become immune to the disease.
Today, there are a number of different vaccines that are used to protect people from a variety of diseases. Vaccines are an important tool in helping to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and can help protect individuals, families, and communities from illnesses caused by viruses and bacteria. Vaccines are available to protect against a wide range of diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus.
