How do vaccines normally evoke an immune response?

Vaccines are designed to evoke an immune response by introducing antigens, which are substances that the immune system recognizes as foreign. The primary mechanism of this response involves the activation of B cells. When B cells are exposed to the antigens present in the vaccine, they become activated and transform into plasma cells. These plasma cells then produce antigen-specific antibodies, which are proteins that can identify and neutralize the specific pathogens corresponding to the vaccine.

This process is crucial because the antibodies created by the B cells remain in the body, leading to immunological memory. This allows the immune system to respond more efficiently and quickly upon subsequent exposures to the actual pathogen, providing protection against disease.

The other options involve different aspects of the immune response but do not accurately describe the primary way vaccines provoke immunity. For instance, while T cells play a role in the immune response, they do not directly produce antibodies; rather, they assist in coordinating the immune response. Understanding this distinction is key to grasping how vaccines function in developing immunity.