The Vaccines are an English indie rock band, formed in London in 2010. The band's debut album, 'What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?' was released through Columbia Records on 14 March 2011 and reached number 4 in the UK album charts. On 5 January 2011, the band were placed third in the BBC's Sound of 2011 poll.

Formed in June 2010, the band consists of Justin Young, Árni Hjörvar (bass), Freddie Cowan (guitar, younger brother of Tom from The Horrors) and Pete Robertson (drums). The band was initially formed by Young and Cowan with a third member who soon left. The band released their demo 'If You Wanna' in the Summer of 2010 where the track received praise from Zane Lowe, who named it his 'Hottest Record In The World' on August 18, 2010. 

After playing their first gig in Leicester, they embarked upon their first UK tour between September and November 2010, and interest in the band led their first London performance (at The Flowerpot in October 2010) to sell out, with the audience including Alex Kapranos, Marcus Mumford, and members of White Lies and The Maccabees, and 200 people having to be turned away, the performance being described by Clash as "fantastic, exhilarating and exciting".

The band then released their debut single 'Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)'/'Blow It Up' on November 29, 2010 in the UK where it reached number 157 in the UK Singles Chart. Only one minute and 24 seconds long, it was named 'Track of the Day' by Q magazine. The band recorded their first ever radio session for Marc Riley's BBC 6 Music show in December 2010. The band also performed live on Later with Jools Holland and in December 2010, they were one of the nominees in the BBC's 'Sound of 2011'.

The band were signed to play on the 2011 NME Awards Tour. Having been signed to Columbia Records, the band released their second single 'Post Break-Up Sex' on 24 January 2011; where it debuted at number 32 in the UK. The Vaccines were also nominated for an MTV Award for 'Best New Band of 2011'. The band released their debut album 'What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?' on 14 March 2011 through Columbia Records.

The album was going to be released on the March 21, 2011, coinciding with the release of The Strokes' fourth album 'Angles', but was brought forward a week. 'Wolf Pack' was used in Season 2 Episode 20 of The Vampire Diaries. On 10 June 2011, The Vaccines performed a supporting act for the Arctic Monkeys in a 10,000 capacity tent set up at Don Valley Bowl, Sheffield, playing alongside Dead Sons and Miles Kane.