Which of the following statements about vaccination against the rabies virus is true?

• A. Vaccination provides lifelong protection against rabies.
• B. The vaccine contains the live attenuated virus.
• C. Vaccination leads to a primary immune response during which specific antibodies are secreted.
• D. Vaccination leads to a passive immune response.

Answer: (C)

Vaccination activates the body’s own adaptive immune system to build protection. When the rabies vaccine is given, it presents rabies antigens in a form that does not cause disease, so the immune system responds by initiating a primary immune response. B cells recognize these antigens and differentiate into plasma cells that secrete rabies-specific antibodies, starting with a primary wave of antibodies and then maturing to higher-affinity antibodies. This antibody production establishes active immunity and creates memory cells so the body can respond more quickly if exposed to the actual virus later. That’s why the statement about a primary immune response with specific antibodies being produced best describes what happens after vaccination.

It’s worth noting that rabies vaccines used in humans are inactivated or recombinant, not live attenuated, so they don’t introduce a living virus. Protection often requires a series of doses, and immunity can wane over time, requiring boosters. Vaccination does not produce passive immunity (which would come from antibodies received from another person or source) and is not guaranteed to be lifelong without boosters.