Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Vaccination has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
taking a vaccine as a precaution against contracting a disease
"The doctor recommended vaccination to prevent the spread of measles in the community."
the scar left following inoculation with a vaccine
"The doctor examined the small, raised vaccination on his arm where he had received the chickenpox shot years ago."
Inoculation with a vaccine, in order to protect from a particular disease or strain of disease.
"The community clinic offered free vaccination against the flu to help prevent widespread outbreaks during the winter season."
In plain English: Vaccination is when you get an injection to help your body fight off specific diseases before they can make you sick.
"The vaccination center is offering free flu shots to everyone in the community this weekend."
Usage: Use "vaccination" when referring to the medical procedure itself rather than the substance administered; reserve "immunization" for broader contexts involving natural immunity or non-vaccine methods. Avoid using it as a verb, which is incorrect in standard English.
From vaccinia, a cowpox infection. Ultimately from Latin vacca ("cow"). Coined by Edward Jenner (1749-1823) in 1798. Jenner infected people with weakened cowpox viruses (vaccinia), to immunise them against smallpox. It is now known that vaccinia and cow pox are separate conditions, but at the time of Jenner, they were considered the same condition.