Difference Between Vaccination and Immunization

Vaccination and immunization are interrelated. However, these two concepts are totally different from each other. Immunity can be strengthened by administering vaccines against a disease. Hence, a vaccination can be defined as a process that builds up immunity (resistance) to a disease. Some of the key differences between vaccination and immunization have been discussed in this article.

Similarity between vaccination and immunization

• Both vaccination and immunization give protection against diseases
• Both processes promote herd immunity 

What is Vaccination?

Vaccination is a process by which a vaccine (a substance used to stimulate immunity / inactivated viruses) is the drug that is administered to an individual against a disease. 

What is Immunization?

Immunization is a process by which an individual develops immunity and becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. 

Difference between Vaccination and Immunization

Definition

Vaccination

It is a process of administering vaccine that helps strengthening immunity against infections caused by bacteria and viruses by stimulating the immune system

Immunization

It is a process which involves strengthening of immunity against a disease.

Types 

Vaccination

Conjugate vaccines, inactivated vaccines, toxoid vaccines, attenuated (live) vaccines, and subunit vaccines

Immunization

Passive immunization – Passive immunity happens when we are safeguarded from an infectious microbe by immunity (defence system) gained from someone else.

Active immunization – Active immunity happens when our own immune system (defense system) is responsible for safeguarding us from an infectious microbe /pathogen.

Administration

Vaccination

There are different methods a vaccine is administered for example:

• Oral – very easy and safe to administer. Given by oral transmission
• Intranasal – administered through nasal routes
• Subcutaneous – administered through fatty tissue (hypodermis) found below the (inner layer of the two main layers of the skin) and above muscle tissue.
• Intramuscular – is delivering medications /vaccines deep into specifically selected muscles. The bulky muscles (thigh, upper arm or bottom) have good vascularity, and hence the injected medication absorbs quickly and reaches the systemic circulation (circuit of vessels delivering oxygenated blood to and taking back deoxygenated blood from the tissues of the body) and then into the a particular area of action, making a detour round from the first-pass metabolism.

Immunization

It does not require any injection or administration as it is a natural process of strengthening body’s immunity against any pathogens.

Summary

The points of difference between vaccination and immunization have been summarized as below:

Vaccination vs Immunization

FAQ: 

What are the three types of immunization?

The three types of immunization are:

Active Immunization: It is the induction of immunity to produce antibodies against a particular pathogen. It includes long-term protection against a disease.

Passive Immunization: It is the use of preformed antibodies from another host.  It gives short-term protection against a disease.

Artificial Immunization: It is the process where an individual develops immunity by means of deliberate human intervention for example by use of vaccines.  

What do you mean by immunization?

It is a process which involves strengthening of immunity against a disease. It also helps making an individual resistant to any infectious disease. 

What is the difference between immune system and immunization?

Immune system – a network of cells, proteins and organs is a body’s defence system against infectious diseases. A strong immune system prevents any germs and microbes to attack our organs and body. 

Immunization is a process of making a person’s immunity fortified against infectious germs and diseases.

What are the 4 most common vaccines?

4 most common vaccines include:

• Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine 
• Nucleic Acid Vaccines (RNA and DNA Vaccines)
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella – MMR vaccine 
• Flu vaccine (influenza) Hepatitis B vaccine
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough vaccine

Is the flu shot a vaccine?

Yes, flu shot is a vaccine which is recommended every 6 months or annually to protect against influenza virus. 

How long do vaccinations last for?

The below list highlights the durations of protection offered by vaccinations for different diseases. However, the protection period for some vaccines is not known or uncertain. 

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella – Life time
• Chickenpox – usually forever/long-term
• Diphtheria – ten years
• Flu vaccine – one year
• Cholera (oral) – up to two years
• Japanese B Encephalitis – two years to, depending on the vaccination used
• Hepatitis B – for life
• Polio booster – for life
• Hepatitis A – lifetime protection
• Meningitis – new conjugate vaccination offers five-year protection 
• Tetanus – five – ten years
• Rabies (pre-exposure) – only booster doses needed as immunity remains for lifetime
• Typhoid capsules x three – three years
• Typhoid capsules x four – five years
• Typhoid (injection) – up to three years
• Pneumonia – More than five years, probably life time
• Whooping cough – immunity begins to diminish after three – five years
• Yellow Fever – lifetime

How long do childhood vaccines last?

Every individuals’ response to any vaccine including childhood vaccines is widely different. Some childhood vaccines last for long, some for two-ten years and for some the exact timeline is unknown. So, there is a degree of variability. Below is the list of childhood vaccines and their expected timelines for protection:

• Haemophilus influenzae (Hib): not known
• Hepatitis A: twenty years
• Hepatitis B: more than thirty years
• Rotavirus: two to three years
• Whooping cough (pertussis): five years
• Polio: not known
• HPV: ten years
• Diphtheria: ten years
• Tetanus: ten years
• Pneumococcal: five to ten years
• Chickenpox (varicella): ten to twenty years
• Meningitis: five years
• Flu: six months
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): potentially lifelong

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