kokotg Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Last week an acquaintance spoke of getting his "vaccine shot" in a text. Then he did it again, suggesting that it's a phrase he uses regularly. I mocked him gently (to my family, not to him) and moved on. But then I started hearing "vaccine shot" ALL OVER THE PLACE! Including by Andy Slavitt on Twitter. I swear I have never in my life noticed anyone calling shots "vaccine shots" before. It sounds totally weird to me and redundant. Of course that's what kind of shot you mean! You could say just vaccine or just shot, but both sounds strange. So now I'm wondering if this is a regional thing, or a new thing, or if people have been saying it all over the place forever, and I've just never noticed. I might be posting a poll? I'm not sure if I am or not (i.e. if it worked or not). But, at any rate: discuss. Vaccine shot or not? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 They are usually called 'jabs' in the UK. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danae Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 “Vaccine” or “shot.” Not both. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Laura Corin said: They are usually called 'jabs' in the UK. I think people in the US are learning that and are charmed by it; I hear it a lot here now! But I bet no one says "vaccine jab" 🙂 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 Evidence that I'm not making this up/it wasn't just the one random text guy: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 I voted before I fully read your post and don’t know how to change it. I thought I was just voting on the word “shot”, which yeah, that’s standard in the US. I guess I don’t know about using both—I’m not sure if I’ve said it but I wouldn’t notice if someone did. Given our mass shooting and gun obsession here it’s probably not a bad idea to clarify. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 6 minutes ago, kokotg said: Evidence that I'm not making this up/it wasn't just the one random text guy: I mean, how else would one phrase it in this context? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 I say "Covid vaccine" or "Covid shot" but not "vaccine shot." Although on thinking about it I don't think "vaccine shot" is totally redundant. One could have a shot that is a vaccine or a shot of antibiotic, nausea medicine, etc. And of course now everybody assumes vaccine = Covid. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 I would say vaccine or shot, not both, but it doesn't bother me or sound overly weird if others say vaccine shot. The vaccine is still a vaccine whether it's in a syringe or in a vat in a lab somewhere. Not all shots are vaccines, and not all vaccines are shots. I put it in the same category as tuna fish. I just say tuna, but lots of people say tuna fish. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 Just now, MEmama said: I mean, how else would one phrase it in this context? I would say "at least one dose" and that's how I usually see it phrased. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Corraleno said: I put it in the same category as tuna fish. I just say tuna, but lots of people say tuna fish. I never thought about this! I've never heard/read vaccine shot and my first thought was that it is redundant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 2 minutes ago, Pawz4me said: I say "Covid vaccine" or "Covid shot" but not "vaccine shot." Although on thinking about it I don't think "vaccine shot" is totally redundant. One could have a shot that is a vaccine or a shot of antibiotic, nausea medicine, etc. And of course now everybody assumes vaccine = Covid. It's true...it's not totally redundant. Although if it's clear you're talking about a covid vaccine specifically, then it's a shot. But I can see why it might be a thing people say in general for clarity. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 (edited) Add me to the list of either or but not both. It's either vaccine or shot. Not just for Covid but for any vaccine. For example I'd say flu shot or flu vaccine but not flu vaccine shot. To me that's like saying the VIN number. I know a lot of people say that and probably some people here too. But when I hear it, I hear "vehicle identification number number" Or like saying 3 am in the morning. As opposed to what? 3 am in the afternoon? I'm not fussing at any of you. I'm chuckling when I post because I'm the one who's bugged by something people say all the time. Edited March 28, 2021 by Lady Florida. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 2 minutes ago, Kassia said: I never thought about this! I've never heard/read vaccine shot and my first thought was that it is redundant. My husband (with whom I've spent a great deal of time talking about this!) compared it to hot water heater. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 I don't think saying vaccine shot is totally redundant because the flu vaccine for example also comes in a mist. I just never hear people say it that way. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditto Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Lady Florida. said: I'm chuckling when I post because I'm the one who's bugged by something people say all the time. Me too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Lady Florida. said: I don't think saying vaccine shot is totally redundant because the flu vaccine for example also comes in a mist. I just never hear people say it that way. Right. I can see an argument that it's not redundant. It doesn't bother me. I'm just not used to hearing it and am curious about how common it is and if it's regional. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 I voted it’s weird, but I can see it for specifying the first, second, or both shots, since it’s just one vaccine, two shots. But generally speaking, no. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 2 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said: I voted it’s weird, but I can see it for specifying the first, second, or both shots, since it’s just one vaccine, two shots. But generally speaking, no. It hadn't occurred to me that it might be a covid specific thing because there are two shots. But I would still say "first shot" and "second shot" (or dose, maybe)...like I don't see how it adds any clarity, but I guess I can see how people might tend to say it more naturally re: covid vaccines than other, single dose vaccines. Based on my poll, I was starting to think hardly anyone really says it after all, but then I googled and found a bunch of examples. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 You could have a vaccine that's not a shot (like the old oral polio vaccine that was given on a sugar cube or a nasal flu mist) or a shot that isn't a vaccine (say antibiotics) .... so its actually descriptive.... though I'd probably use one or the other and assume it was implied. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 42 minutes ago, Lady Florida. said: To me that's like saying the VIN number. I know a lot of people say that and probably some people here too. But when I hear it, I hear "vehicle identification number number" And PIN number 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 1 hour ago, kokotg said: I think people in the US are learning that and are charmed by it; I hear it a lot here now! But I bet no one says "vaccine jab" 🙂 Not so fast! https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2021/03/aged-50-or-over-book-your-covid-vaccine-jab-today 2 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Corraleno said: I would say vaccine or shot, not both, but it doesn't bother me or sound overly weird if others say vaccine shot. The vaccine is still a vaccine whether it's in a syringe or in a vat in a lab somewhere. Not all shots are vaccines, and not all vaccines are shots. I put it in the same category as tuna fish. I just say tuna, but lots of people say tuna fish. I don't think I've heard vaccine shot. I just say vaccine, I think. Also, for some reason I say tuna fish when it comes in a can for sandwich making and tuna for sushi. I hadn't realized that until now, but apparently I have categorized them differently in my head. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 I also answered incorrectly. I was reading it as "Covid Shot" and not "vaccine shot". 🤦♀️ But, yeah, I will say Covid shot or Covid vaccine but definitely not both. There is no rhyme nor reason why I say one over the other. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 I voted odd, but no more odd than other redundancies people use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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