AST Surgical Technologist Practice Exam 2026 - Free Surgical Tech Practice Questions and Study Guide

Vaccination provides artificial active immunity. This type of immunity is achieved when a person is exposed to a harmless form of an antigen, usually through a vaccine, which prompts the body's immune system to produce its own antibodies. This process allows the immune system to "learn" how to recognize and combat the pathogen, providing long-term protection against future infections from that same pathogen.

In contrast, natural passive immunity occurs when antibodies are transferred from mother to child, such as through breast milk. Natural active immunity arises from the natural infection of a pathogen, where the body generates an immune response. Artificial passive immunity involves the direct transfer of antibodies from one individual to another, often through treatments such as immunoglobulin therapy. Since vaccination involves the artificial introduction of antigens to stimulate the body's own immune response, it is categorized specifically as artificial active immunity.