Respond to: Thara Andaya
The difference between active immunity and passive immunity occurs when the body reacts with a particular antigen after being injected with prepared antibodies. These antibodies originate from either diseased animals or from people who have had the disease and produced antibodies. The circulating antibodies function similarly to those made by plasma cells, identifying the foreign protein and binding to it, whereas active immunity “occurs when the body recognizes a foreign protein and begins producing antibodies to react with that specific protein and antigen.” (Karch, A.M, 2019, p.311) Specific memory cells that produce the same antibodies as plasma cells are developed once plasma cells are formed to do so. These memory cells react instantly to the introduction of the specific foreign protein by releasing antibodies.
The key nursing considerations in the implementation of vaccines are “ensuring proper preparation and administration of vaccines within the appropriate time frame. Provide support and comfort measures to deal with adverse effects: Anti-inflammatory/antipyretic, local heat application, small meals, rest, and a quiet environment. Provide parent teaching regarding drug names, adverse effects and precautions, and warning signs to report. Provide emergency life support if needed for the acute reaction.” (Karch, A.M. 2019, p.314) No matter where they work or in what capacity, nurses in all nursing roles must have daily direct patient contact. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that nurses are the patient’s primary point of contact for medical assistance when fighting the flu and other viral infections.
The difference between a patient receiving a vaccine and immune serum is vaccinations are another another technique for your body to produce antibodies. Your body is exposed to one or more viral proteins through vaccinations. This causes it to develop B cells, which create antibodies directed against a particular virus. “Vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect yourself from infectious diseases.” (Hickman, 2023) In other words,the components of vaccinations might be live, weakened viruses or bacteria or chemically inactivated microorganisms. Toxoids are vaccines created from microorganism-produced toxins that have been changed to become less lethal while retaining the recognized protein antigen that will promote the formation of antibodies.”Immune sera provide preformed antibodies to specific proteins for people who have been exposed to them or are at high risk for exposure.” (Karch, A.M. 2019, p.321) In contrast to serum treatment, which transfers disease-fighting molecules (antibodies) from the blood of recovered patients to the ill to strengthen their defenses, vaccinations encourage the body to create its own immunity against a particular disease.
