Watts_3.1

Abstract
Vaccination has had a huge impact on increasing human life expectancy. Immunity is the state of protection against infectious disease conferred either through an immune response generated by immunization or previous infection or by other non-immunological factors. Immunizations are often widely stated as less risky and an easier way to become immune to a particular disease than risking a milder form of the disease itself. Passive immunization by transfer of antibodies has the advantage of more rapidly establishing protection, but it is short-lived and may carry a risk of inducing serum sickness. The route and schedule of immunization, physical nature of the vaccine antigen, and immune status of the host all contribute to the relative effectiveness of any vaccination protocol, in ways which are still not fully understood. Passive immunization, in which antibodies against a particular infectious agent are given directly to the child or adult, is sometimes appropriate. These antibodies are taken from a donor and then processed so the final preparation contains high antibody concentrations. At that point, they are given in the vein or by shot to the patient. Passive immunization is often used in children and adults. It can be used with people who haven’t been vaccinated against a disease to which they’ve been exposed. Most commonly for the prevention of measles, hepatitis-A, hepatitis-B, tetanus, varicella, rabies, and vaccinia. Although their use in the treatment of bacterial infection has largely been supplanted by antibiotics, antibodies remain a critical component of the treatment of diptheria, tetanus, and botulism.
Keywords: Immunization; Passive immunity; Immunoglobulin preparations
Int. J. Grad. Res. Rev. Vol-3, Issue-1: 3-7