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Article: Immunizations
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Public Health
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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IMMUNIZATIONS
Immunization is the induction of immunity against an infectious disease by a means other than experiencing the natural infection. The term is usually used interchangeably with vaccination. Active immunization involves administration of an antigenic substance that then induces development of protective antibodies by the person immunized. This protection usually lasts for years, even for life. Passive immunization refers to temporary immunity resulting from antibodies developed by someone else, either through administration of immune globulin (e.g., gamma globulin, rabies immune globulin) or through the natural transfer across the placenta of antibodies developed by the ...