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Innate immunity is protection that you’re born with. Your innate immune system is part of your body’s first-line defense. It responds to invaders right away by attacking any organism that shouldn’t be in your body. It doesn’t need prior training to tell the difference between cells that belong in your body and those that don’t.
The white blood cells involved in innate immunity don’t learn to recognize certain invaders. They also have no memory of attacking invaders and don’t offer protection against specific germs (or the infections they cause) in the future.
That’s where acquired immunity comes into play. Acquired immunity, also called adaptive or specific immunity, is protection your body gains (acquires) over time from exposure to germs. Certain white blood cells called lymphocytes remember specific invaders and can tell when they don’t belong in your body. So, if those invaders try to get in again, the lymphocytes can quickly spring into action and work with other cells to eliminate the threat.
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Vaccines support your acquired immunity by training its cells to identify and destroy invaders before they make you sick.
Like a home security system that guards against intruders and sounds the alarm when needed, your immune system is on-call and ready to signal for help when it perceives a threat. The cells and organs of your immune system work together to locate, identify and remove germs and other invaders to keep you safe and healthy. But guarding isn’t your immune system’s only duty. Its crew also heals the damage that intruders cause, just like you’d need someone to repair a broken window or door.
But even the best security system can malfunction sometimes. Autoimmune diseases or other conditions can disrupt your body’s ability to defend itself against intruders or repair damage. That’s why it’s important to see a healthcare provider regularly for checkups. They can find problems early and, if needed, provide treatment to keep your immune system working at its best.
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Cleveland Clinic's health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability, and up-to-date clinical standards.