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active immunization

Also known as: active immunity, vaccination

Quick Summary

Active immunization is a method of artificially stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies and lymphocytes against a specific pathogen or toxin, thereby preventing disease before exposure. This is achieved through the administration of vaccines, which contain harmless forms of organisms, inactivated toxins, or their antigens. Unlike passive immunization, where preformed antibodies are transferred, active immunization relies on the body's own immune system to generate a protective response and develop immunologic memory. This memory allows for a faster and stronger reaction upon subsequent exposure to the pathogen. Vaccines can be made from killed or weakened microbes, or even just key antigens, and are crucial for preventing infectious diseases, controlling outbreaks, and potentially eradicating diseases worldwide.123

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