What is Immunization?

The word immunization is related to immunity. Immunization is the process by which the body produces antibodies against pathogens that are inserted through vaccines.  It helps protect individuals from getting sick by stimulating their immune system to recognize and fight off specific pathogens.

Let’s understand both vaccination and immunization with a simple example. The first step is vaccination. For example, the doctor might give you a vaccine containing inactivated hepatovirus particles (not live viruses) through injection. This triggers your body’s immune system to learn how to recognize and fight the hepatovirus.

Once you’re vaccinated, the next step is immunization. If you encounter the actual hepatovirus later, your immune system will be prepared. It can quickly produce antibodies that can effectively neutralize and eliminate the virus, preventing you from getting sick. This is what makes you immune to the disease.

Difference Between Vaccination And Immunization

The difference between vaccination and immunization is that vaccination has to be given externally from outside the body. The vaccination process involves the introduction of a vaccine into the individual whereas immunization involves producing antibodies against vaccines containing weak pathogens. In this article, we will cover the difference between Vaccination And Immunization and their similarities.

Table of Content

  • What is Vaccination?
  • What is Immunization?
  • Difference Between Vaccination and Immunization
  • Principle Behind Vaccination and Immunization
  • Similarities Between Vaccination and Immunization

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What is Vaccination?

Vaccination is the process by which a vaccine is introduced (mainly through injection) into the individual to protect it from any disease. The vaccine is an extract of a weak or dead pathogen given to a person to protect against that particular pathogen or disease. This controlled exposure stimulates the immune system to develop a targeted defense mechanism. When the body encounters the actual disease in the future, the immune system can rapidly recognize and effectively fight it, preventing illness....

What is Immunization?

The word immunization is related to immunity. Immunization is the process by which the body produces antibodies against pathogens that are inserted through vaccines.  It helps protect individuals from getting sick by stimulating their immune system to recognize and fight off specific pathogens....

Difference Between Vaccination and Immunization

The below points highlight the difference between vaccination and immunization:...

Principle Behind Vaccination and Immunization

The principle of immunization or vaccination is based on the immune system’s property of ‘memory’. The vaccines given to individuals generate memory B cells and T cells that identify the previously attacked pathogen and kill them by producing antibodies against them. For example, in the case of snakebites, the doctors give an injection that consists of preformed antibodies against the venom. Similarly, if our body is diagnosed with tetanus, doctors give us an injection that consists of the weak pathogen of tetanus bacteria....

Similarities Between Vaccination and Immunization

The following points highlight the similarities between vaccination and immunization:...

Conclusion – Difference Between Vaccination and Immunization

Immunization and vaccination are two different processes. The difference between vaccination and immunization are given in this article. In vaccination, a vaccine against a particular pathogen (bacteria or virus) is given to an individual whereas, in immunization, the vaccine inside the body produces antibodies that kill that pathogen. Not all vaccines are safe during pregnancy....

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