PASSIVE IMMUNITY & ACTIVE IMMUNITY

 Immunity is the ability of the body to destroy pathogens by

producing antibodies before they cause diseases.
 The process of acquiring immunity towards a specific disease is
called immunisation.
 Antibodies are specific in their actions which is one type of
antibody only fights against one type of pathogen.
 There are two types of immunity, active immunity and passive
immunity.

ACTIVE IMMUNITY

 Active immunity refers to the immunity obtained when the body

produces its own antibodies.
 Active immunity is classified into two; natural active immunity and
artificial active immunity.
 Sometimes, more than one injection of vaccine is required to
stimulate the body to produce antibodies at an effective level of
immunity. For example, to prevent hepatitis B, a person needs
three doses. The second and the third vaccinations are called
booster doses.

NATURAL ACTIVE IMMUNITY

 Antibodies are produced after a person has recovered from an

infection.
 These antibodies will fight the infection again if the pathogens
return.
 Sometimes, the antibodies produced give life-long immunity.
 Diseases such as chicken pox and smallpox give long immunisation
to the sufferer.

ARTIFICIAL ACTIVE IMMUNITY

 Antibodies are produced after getting an injection of a vaccine or
immunisation.
 Vaccine is a substance that contains dead or weakened pathogens.
 The vaccine is intentionally injected into a healthy person that
stimulate body to produce antibodies.
 For example: Measles and BCG Vaccines.
PASSIVE IMMUNITY
 Passive immunity occurs when the antibodies that fight a pathogen
come from another source.

NATURAL PASSIVE IMMUNITY

 This is acquired by two methods:
(a) Antibodies are obtained by an embryo or foetus from its
mother in the uterus.
(b) Babies also obtain antibodies through their mother’s milk
(breastfeeding).
 This type of immunity does not last long. It is temporary and short
for the baby, which lasts the first few months after being born.

ARTIFICIAL PASSIVE IMMUNITY

 This immunity is acquired through the injection of an antiserum
into the patient’s body.
 Antiserum is blood plasma that contains antibodies for a particular
disease.
 Antiserum is usually extracted from animals (usually horses) that
have been previously infected by the disease.
 This immunity is short lived and only gives temporary protection.
 Antiserum is used to treat diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria,
snake bites and rabies.

Comparison between artificial active and passive immunity.

Similarities
• Both fight against diseases.
• Both involve antibodies.
 NATURAL PASSIVE ASPECTS ARTIFICIAL PASSIVE
IMMUNITY IMMUNITY
Injection of vaccine Ways of acquiring Injection of antiserum
immunity
Dead or weakened Substances that are Antibodies
pathogens injected
Prevention before Strategy of defence Defense after
infection by a infection by a
pathogen pathogen
Takes a long time Effectiveness Immediate
Several months or Period of protection Short period
years