Which type of immunity is provided through vaccines?

Vaccines provide active immunity. When a person receives a vaccine, it introduces a weakened or inactivated form of a pathogen or a piece of that pathogen (such as a protein). This exposure stimulates the immune system to produce a response, including the generation of specific antibodies against the pathogen. As a result, if the person later encounters the actual pathogen, their immune system can recognize and respond more rapidly and effectively, providing protection against disease.

Active immunity is characterized by the body's own immune response developing after exposure, and it generally provides long-lasting protection. This is distinct from passive immunity, where antibodies are transferred from one individual to another (like from mother to child) and does not involve the recipient's immune system actively responding to pathogens. Innate immunity is the body’s first line of defense and operates immediately; it is not specific to particular pathogens or improved by past exposure. Acquired immunity, while related to active immunity, typically refers to immunity that is developed in response to exposure to antigens, which is what vaccines aim to achieve. Thus, the correct answer highlights the involvement of the immune system in generating its own defenses through vaccination.