What type of immunity is provided when antibodies are given to a person rather than produced by the person’s own immune system?

• A. Passive immunity
• B. Active immunity
• C. Natural immunity
• D. Personal immunity

Answer: (A)

When antibodies are provided from another source instead of being produced by the person’s own immune system, the protection is called passive immunity. This gives immediate defense because the body doesn’t have to mount a response or generate its own antibodies. However, it’s temporary because those antibodies will eventually wane and no lasting immune memory is created, so long-term protection isn’t established. Examples include antibodies passed from mother to child through the placenta or breast milk, and therapeutic antibody treatments given directly to a patient. In contrast, active immunity involves the person’s immune system actively producing antibodies—usually after infection or vaccination—leading to longer-lasting protection due to immune memory. Natural immunity and personal immunity aren’t the terms that describe this direct transfer of antibodies from another source.