Jab

A "jab" is a common British, Scottish, and American slang term for vaccination or injection. It's similar to the American word "shot" and is often used in informal conversations about getting vaccinated. For example, people might say, "I went to get my flu jab today" or "Have you had your COVID-19 jab yet?"

Jab is meant to be light-hearted, making the process of receiving an injection sound a bit more casual and tolerable. For many, it reduces the anxiety associated with having a needle poked into their skin (especially when compared to "shot").

While the term existed before the COVID-19 pandemic, jab became particularly well-known when covid vaccinations went global in 2021. For example, public health campaigns across the United Kingdom urged people to "get the jab" to protect themselves and others. In the United States, jab is now a common term, both online and in person, when discussing public health and immunization efforts due to the pandemic.