Passive Immunity & Breastfeeding
- Passive immunity is a fast-acting, short-term defence against a pathogen by antibodies acquired from another individual
- Before birth, antibodies can be transmitted across the placenta from other to fetus
- After the birth of an infant, antibodies pass from mother to infant via breast milk which contains some white blood cells that can themselves produce antibodies
- This is important as it helps the very young to fight off infections until they are older and stronger and their immune system is more responsive
- The baby does not make its own antibodies or memory cells in passive immunity, hence the name
- The lack of memory cells explains why passive immunity is temporary
