Vaccination - GCSE Biology Definition

Vaccination is a process where a person is given a special medicine, called a vaccine, to help protect them from certain diseases. This vaccine often contains a small, harmless part of the disease-causing pathogen, or something that closely resembles it. When the vaccine is introduced into the body, it teaches the immune system—the body’s defence system—to recognise and fight the real disease if it ever appears. This helps to prevent illness and keeps communities healthy by reducing the spread of disease. Vaccinations are an important part of public health and are used to protect both individuals and the wider community from contagious diseases.