The major disadvantage of passive immunization is that it only provides temporary protection, as opposed to active immunization which provides long-term protection. Passive immunization involves the injection of pre-made antibodies into the body, whereas active immunization involves the stimulation of the body’s own immune system to create its own antibodies. Since the pre-made antibodies introduced to the body through passive immunization are not generated by the body, they are eventually eliminated, leaving the body unprotected from the disease.
Another disadvantage of passive immunization is that it is not as effective as active immunization in preventing disease. Because the body does not produce the antibodies itself, it is less likely to recognize and fight off the disease-causing agent. Furthermore, since the antibodies injected are not derived from the person receiving the injection, they may not be specific to the disease-causing agent, and may not be as effective in fighting it off.
In addition, passive immunization is more expensive than active immunization, since pre-made antibodies are not easy to produce. The production of these antibodies also requires a lot of time and resources, making it a less efficient method of protection.
Finally, passive immunization may not be suitable for certain diseases, such as those caused by viruses. This is because antibodies produced in response to a virus will not be effective against other viruses, and therefore cannot provide long-term protection.