ABSTRACT
V (1 chemistry; 2 biochemistry) 1 The CHEMICAL SYMBOL for ELEMENT 23, VANADIUM. 2 A symbol for valine.
vaccination (immunology) The ar tificial production of ACTIVE IMMUNITY by the injection of a VACCINE. The word ‘VACCINATION’ is derived from the Latin for ‘cow’, and was coined by the British physician Edward Jenner (1749-1823) to describe his idea of injecting patients with cowpox VIRUS to protect them against smallpox (a very similar VIRUS). A VACCINE now means any SUSPENSION of dead or non-virulent VIRUSES or BACTERIA used in IMMUNISATION.
