Thursday 26 June 2014

What is Immunity?

We often heard about this word “Immunity”. Do you know what it is exactly? 

Immunity can be defined as: 
  • The State of being immune or invulnerable to a particular disease
  • Condition which permits one with natural or acquired resistance to disease
  • Exemption from any natural or usual liability
  • Exemption from compulsion, duty or service, jurisdiction, etc


Types of immunity:
Immunity in Medical: 

  1. Innate immunity:  This immunity is the natural resistance which can be present from birth. 
  2. Adaptive immunity: It can be subdivided into 2 types: naturally acquired immunity (developed by body when disease causing agents fights with body) and artificially acquired immunity (like acquired by vaccination). 

Immunity in Law: There can be 4 types of immunity in law as a general rule. 

  1. When a prosecutor, a judge or a jury promise not to prosecute for a crime in exchange for information or testimony in a criminal matter
  2. When a public official granted with immunity of protection from liability for their decisions 
  3. Governmental immunity, which protects government agencies from lawsuits 
  4. Foreign ambassadors got diplomatic immunity 

So here I tried to define immunity, hope you liked it while reading. Please share your thoughts in comment below.