Medical procedures involving the administration of vaccines to stimulate immunity against diseases. The process of introducing antigenic material to produce immunity.
From Latin vacca 'cow', through vaccinia 'cowpox'. Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids who contracted cowpox were immune to smallpox, leading to the first vaccine in 1796. The cow connection is preserved in the word because the first vaccine used cowpox virus.
The word 'vaccination' literally means 'to make cow-like' - one of the most successful medical interventions in history owes its name to bovines. Jenner's observation about milkmaids led to a practice that has saved more lives than any other medical procedure.
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