Author
Home > Health > What is the Difference Between Vaccine and Injection?

Guilherme Mazui

•3 minutes to read

What is the Difference Between Vaccine and Injection?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

The difference between a vaccine and an injection lies in their purpose and composition. Here are the key distinctions:

  • Vaccine: A vaccine is a biological preparation used to stimulate the body's immune response against specific diseases. It contains a small amount of a live but weakened form of a virus, dead bacteria, small parts of bacteria, or a modified toxin produced by bacteria. Vaccines help the immune system develop protection from disease by artificially activating the immune response.
  • Injection: An injection is the act of transferring a liquid, often a drug or a vaccine, into a person's body using a needle and a syringe. Injections can be administered in different ways, such as intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously.

Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but some can be given orally or as nasal sprays. While vaccines provide immunity to specific diseases, injections are a method of delivering various substances into the body for different purposes, not just limited to vaccines.

On this page
  • What is the Difference Between Vaccine and Injection?
  • Comparative Table: Vaccine vs Injection

    • Comparative Table: Vaccine vs Injection

    Here is a table summarizing the difference between a vaccine and an injection:

    Vaccine Injection
    A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a specific infectious disease The act of transferring a liquid, especially a drug, into a person's body using a needle and a syringe
    Contains a virus or microorganism in a weakened, live, or killed state, or toxins or proteins from the organism Liquid can be any substance, not just a biological preparation
    Administered to help the immune system develop protection from disease by artificially activating the immune system Administered for various purposes, such as providing medication, nutrients, or other substances
    Examples: flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine Examples: antibiotics, painkillers, insulin, steroids

    In summary, a vaccine is a biological preparation designed to provide immunity against a specific disease, while an injection is the act of administering a liquid substance into a person's body using a needle and a syringe.

    Read more:

    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.