What type of immunity is provided by vaccination?

Vaccination provides active immunity. This type of immunity arises when an individual's immune system is stimulated to produce a response against a specific pathogen after exposure to a harmless component or a weakened version of that pathogen, such as in a vaccine. When a vaccine is administered, it prompts the body to produce antibodies and memory cells that recognize and combat the pathogen in the future, thereby equipping the immune system to respond quickly and effectively if the real pathogen is encountered.

This process distinguishes active immunity from other types, as it involves the individual's own immune response rather than receiving antibodies from another source. In contrast, passive immunity involves the transfer of pre-formed antibodies from one individual to another, such as through maternal breast milk or therapeutic antibody treatments. Innate immunity refers to the non-specific defenses that are present at birth and do not adapt or change based on exposure, while natural immunity generally describes immunity that develops after infection with a pathogen.