prophylactic immunization
Quick Summary
Prophylactic immunization is the artificial creation of specific immunity to prevent diseases. It is a cornerstone of modern medicine, significantly reducing suffering and death from infectious diseases.1
There are two main types:
* Passive immunization: Protection is transferred by introducing pre-formed antibodies or lymphocytes from another individual.1
* Active immunization: This involves administering a vaccine, which contains weakened or dead forms of an organism or inactivated toxins. This stimulates the immune system to produce its own antibodies and lymphocytes against the specific threat.12
Active immunization aims to ensure the body is prepared to fight off infections before they occur. Vaccines can be made from toxoids (inactivated toxins), killed microbes, or weakened (attenuated) live microbes. Newer methods utilize recombinant DNA technology to produce specific antigens. This approach has led to the eradication of diseases like smallpox and a dramatic reduction in others like polio.13
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
