What is the difference between active immunity and passive immunity?

The distinction between active immunity and passive immunity centers on how immunity is developed and obtained.

Active immunity occurs when an individual's immune system responds to a pathogen (such as a virus or bacterium) either through natural infection or through vaccination. This process involves the body's own immune response, leading to the creation of specific antibodies and immune memory cells. Because it involves the host's immune system actively engaging with an antigen, this type of immunity can last for years and even for a lifetime, depending on the pathogen and the individual's immune system.

On the other hand, passive immunity is acquired when antibodies are transferred from another individual or organism. This can happen naturally, such as when a mother passes antibodies to her fetus through the placenta or through breast milk, or it can be obtained artificially, as in the case of antivenom or immunoglobulin therapies. Passive immunity provides immediate protection, but it is typically short-lived because the recipient's immune system has not developed its own active response, and once the transferred antibodies degrade, the immunity wanes.

The other options presented offer incorrect characterizations of active and passive immunity, such as suggesting that active immunity is inherited or that passive immunity is long-lasting, which are not accurate representations of these concepts. Understanding this difference is