Passive immunity occurs when antibodies are transferred from one person to another, or from animal to human. It is short-lived and used when immediate protection is needed. Active immunity, created by vaccination, lasts longer and is preferred for long-term health.
Passive immunity is a form of immunity that occurs when antibodies are transferred from one person to another individual or when antibodies of animal origin are introduced into a human. This type of immunity is short-lived and typically occurs in cases where a patient needs immediate protection from something and cannot form antibodies quickly enough on their own.
In natural passive immunity, antibodies are passed from a mother to a baby. The antibodies can be transferred across the placenta or transmitted through colostrum, a liquid that is produced in the breast for the baby’s first meal. The antibodies transmitted through the colostrum and placenta usually last only several weeks, long enough for the baby to start developing its own immune system and producing its own antibodies.
Artificial passive immunity involves the introduction of antibodies through means such as injection. For example, in the treatment of some diseases, patients may be given a serum derived from recovered patients to help them fight the disease. This practice is sometimes seen when people are dealing with an outbreak of a new or extremely virulent disease for which no known treatment is available.
Prophylactic antibody treatments are sometimes given when people are exposed to diseases such as rabies, botulism, tetanus, and diphtheria. By giving a patient passive immunity, a doctor can help the patient recover from an illness that the patient’s body is unable to fight off. This type of immunity is not the same as vaccination, a process in which small amounts of antigens are introduced into the body to encourage it to form its own antibodies so it can fight those antigens in the future.
When the body produces its own antigens, as seen when someone is vaccinated, this is known as active immunity. Active immunity lasts much longer than passive immunity, sometimes persisting for life to prevent someone from getting sick, in stark contrast to the temporary state of passive immunity. Induction of active immunity is often preferred when possible because it will support the patient’s long-term health. However, the artificial creation of active immunity is very complicated, as it involves the controlled introduction of antigens into the body and this can be dangerous for some patients, as seen when so-called ‘live’ vaccines cause epidemics.
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