Which type of immunity is gained through vaccination?

The type of immunity gained through vaccination is active immunity. When a vaccine is administered, it introduces a harmless component of a pathogen—such as a protein or a weakened or inactivated virus—into the immune system. This exposure stimulates the body’s immune response, resulting in the production of antibodies and memory cells specific to that pathogen.

These memory cells remain in the body, allowing for a faster and more effective response if the individual is exposed to the actual pathogen in the future. This process of developing immunity is a proactive response that prepares the immune system to defend against future infections.

Acquired immunity is a broader term that can encompass both active immunity (like that acquired through vaccination) and passive immunity (obtained through maternal antibodies or immunotherapy). Innate immunity, on the other hand, refers to the natural barriers and responses that our bodies are born with and does not result from vaccination. Passive immunity involves receiving antibodies from an external source rather than producing them independently, as seen with vaccinations.