Flu Vaccine Definition, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：flu shot (Flu Vaccine)

Flu Vaccine 🔊

/fluː ˈvæksiːn/

A shot that helps prevent the flu by making your body immune to the influenza virus.

Doctor administering flu vaccine in clinic with autumn leaves

flu shot 🔊

➕

/flu ʃɒt/

A medical injection that provides immunity against the influenza virus, typically administered annually.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combination of 'flu' (short for influenza) and 'vaccine' (from Latin 'vacca', cow, referencing early smallpox vaccine).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'Flu Vaccine' as a shield protecting you from the flu bugs, like a superhero shot.

📖 Example

Every autumn, I make sure to get the flu vaccine to protect myself during the cold months. 🔊 Every autumn, I make sure to get the flu vaccine to protect myself during the cold months.

🔗 Collocations

get a flu vaccine – receive a flu shot

annual flu vaccine – yearly influenza vaccination

flu vaccine effectiveness – how well the flu shot works

🔄 Synonyms

flu shot (n.) – A common term for the flu vaccine given as an injection.

influenza immunization (n.) – The process of making someone immune to the flu via vaccination.

flu jab (n.) – Informal British term for a flu vaccine injection.

🚫 Antonyms

flu infection (n.) – The disease that the vaccine aims to prevent.

influenza outbreak (n.) – A sudden increase in flu cases, which vaccination helps control.

unvaccinated state (n.) – Being without the protection of a flu vaccine.

🌱 Derivatives

vaccinate (v.) – To treat someone with a vaccine to produce immunity.

vaccination (n.) – The act of administering a vaccine.

vaccinology (n.) – The science of vaccine development and immunization.

📖 Cultural Story

The term 'vaccine' originates from Edward Jenner's 1796 use of cowpox material to immunize against smallpox, later extended to influenza prevention.