Several vaccines can be produced for a combination vaccination, utilizing surface proteins from several disease agents. Provides longer lasting protection. Primary response is gradual. It takes several days before antibodies appear. Antibody titer is amount of antibody present in serum.
Titer slowly rises, evens off, then falls as antibodies bind to antigen or break down.
More plasma and memory cells are present to produce antibodies rapidly. Active immunity lasts as long as clones of memory B and memory T cells are present. Passive Immunity is Short-lived. Since the individual does not produce these antibodies, immunity is short-lived. Injections of gamma globulin serum that contains antibodies can prevent full illness from developing in patient just exposed to serious agents with no time to develop active immunity from immunization.