Immunization

Immnization;

•           Is the induction or introduction of specific protective antibodies in a susceptible person or animal, or the production of cellular immunity in such person or animal.

Immunity;

• The condition of being secure against any particular disease, particularly the power which a living organism possesses to resist and overcome infection.
• Is the resistance than an individual has against disease?

1. Specific immunity to particular organisms implies that an individual has either generated the appropriate antibody in his own body or receives ready-made antibodies from another source.
2. Immunization may be natural (not acquired through previou contact with the infectious agent) or acquired immunity.
3. Acquired immunity may be passive or active.

Active Immunization;

• Is immunization that has been produced by natural or acquired stimulation so that the body produces its own antibodies?

1. It may be produced by clinical or subclinical infection (the person gets the disease); by vaccination with lived or killed microorganisms or their antigens; or by inactivated vaccines and toxoids.
2. The organisms have been treated by heating or by chemical inactivation to destroy their harmful properties without destroying their ability to stimulate antibody protection.
3. Active immunizations that are available for adults include tetanus and diphtheria toxoid; adult-type tetanus toxoid, and vaccines for influnza, mumps, poliovirus, measles, rubella, hepatitis B and pneumococcal pneumonia.
4. Vaccines are also available for cholera. plague, rabies, typhoid, typhus, yellow fever and small fox.

Passive Immunity

     - Is a state of relative temporary protection produced by the injection of serum containing antibodies, which have formed in another host?

Types of Preparation for Passive Immunity

1. Immune Globulin (IG)
2. Specific immune globulin ( for specific illnesses-rabies immune globulin, varicella-zoster, immune globulin; hapatitis B immune globulin; tetanus immune globulin)
3. Human immune serum globulin with a known antibody content (for specific illness).
4. Animal antiserum or anti-toxins.