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Immunity is the body’s defense system against diseases. It can be broadly divided into natural immunity and artificial immunity, with further subcategories of active and passive immunity. Vaccination is one of the best examples of artificial active immunity.
When a person receives a vaccine, a small and safe amount of weakened, killed, or inactive pathogen (or its antigen) is introduced into the body. This does not cause the actual disease but is enough to stimulate the immune system. The body’s defense mechanism identifies the antigen as a foreign invader and produces specific antibodies to fight it.
This process “trains” the immune system to remember the pathogen. If the person is exposed to the real pathogen in the future, the immune system can respond quickly and effectively, preventing illness. This memory response is what makes vaccination so powerful in providing long-term protection.
Artificial active immunity is different from:
Natural active immunity: which occurs when someone gets the infection naturally and the body fights it off.
Artificial passive immunity: where ready-made antibodies are given, such as antivenom injections.
Natural passive immunity: where antibodies are passed from mother to baby through the placenta or breast milk.
Examples of vaccines that provide artificial active immunity include those for measles, polio, hepatitis B, diphtheria, and COVID-19. These vaccines have saved millions of lives by preventing outbreaks of deadly diseases.
Therefore, the correct answer is Artificial Active Immunity. Vaccination works by preparing the immune system in advance, giving protection without the person having to suffer from the actual disease.
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