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Latest post Mon, Jul 14 2008 4:31 AM by RayH. 8 replies.
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Winpoj  +  237462 Sun, 18 Jun 06 08:48 PM
Hello,

would anyone be so kind and explain me what the exact difference (if any) is between "inoculation" and "vaccination"?
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Mister Micawber  +  237574 Mon, 19 Jun 06 05:44 AM

It appears that vaccination is one sort of inoculation.  From Dorland's Medical Dictionary:

inoculation (in·oc·u·la·tion) (ĭ-nok”u-la´shən) [L. inoculatio, from in into + oculus bud]  introduction of microorganisms, infective material, serum, and other substances into tissues of living plants and animals, or culture media; introduction of a disease agent, e.g., vaccine virus, into a healthy individual to produce a mild form of the disease followed by immunity.

vaccination (vac·ci·na·tion) (vak”sĭ-na´shən) [L. vacca cow]  the introduction of vaccine into the body for the purpose of inducing immunity. Coined originally to apply to the injection of smallpox vaccine, the term has come to mean any immunizing procedure in which vaccine is injected.

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Winpoj  +  237885 Mon, 19 Jun 06 11:01 PM
Many thanks, Micawber,

Just to understand the issue as perfectly as possible: It seems to follow from your answer that people can also be inoculated with something else than a vaccine (I'm not interested here in animals, plants or culture media). What might that something be? Is something else than vaccines used for the purposes of immunization in human medicine?

Regards
Mister Micawber  +  238040 Tue, 20 Jun 06 07:35 AM

I believe the definition I posted answers your question:  microorganisms, infective material, serum, and other substances.  For more specifics, I recommend you consult your family physician.  I am only a grammar doctor.

Anonymous, 3 yr 154 days ago
Actually, I think the definitions suggest that vaccination is a special case of inoculation -- the inoculation of vaccine for the purpose of inducing immunity.

In other words, the procedure of inoculation is not necessarily for the purpose of vaccination (i.e., the purpose of inducing immunity), and does not necessarily involve introducing material into the living tissues of a human being or animal. Material may also be introduced into a culture medium. In such a case, it is obviously not for the purpose of "vaccinating" that medium.

Anonymous, 3 yr 46 days ago
yes
mjcbrown  +  291812 Sat, 11 Nov 06 01:11 PM

As a doctor who trained long ago in London, I can only give you the difference as we used it.  Vaccination emphasised the the therapeutic nature of the medical procedure and is limited to immunisation. Inoculation emphasised the the physical act and can be of beneficial or harmful substances. Inoculation can apply to non-human things. So one can inoculate the agar gel in a Petri dish.

I hope that helps!

m jc brown

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Anonymous, 1 yr 131 days ago
They mean the exact same thing. They are just synonyms.
RayH  +  541046 Mon, 14 Jul 08 04:31 AM

Winpoj
“Hello,

would anyone be so kind and explain me what the exact difference (if any) is between "inoculation" and "vaccination"?

In addition to all of the previous answers don't forget that "inoculate" can be used in a figurative sense as follows.
"The Obama campaign was correct to reckon that “nobody” has heard of FISA. So they did something for perceived political benefit to inoculate the candidate against the terror-card."
As quoted from: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6482490

You would never use "vaccinate" like this.
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Native speaker of U. S. English. Not a grammar expert.
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