Vaccines as well as exposure to natural disease are both examples of which type of immunity?

Active immunity is characterized by the body’s immune response to pathogens or vaccines. It involves the production of antibodies by the immune system following exposure to antigens, whether from a vaccine or from a natural infection. When a person receives a vaccine, their immune system recognizes the antigens in the vaccine as foreign and mounts an immune response, creating memory cells that can recognize and respond to the pathogen in the future. Similarly, when an individual is exposed to a natural disease, their immune system produces antibodies and memory cells as a result of that exposure.

This lasting protection provided by both vaccines and previous infections qualifies as active immunity, as it typically develops after a significant immune response and can provide long-term defense against specific diseases. In contrast, other types of immunity do not involve the active role of the immune system in the same way; for instance, passive immunity involves receiving antibodies from an external source (like maternal antibodies) rather than producing them internally.