immunity gap

immunity gap (plural immunity gaps)

1. (veterinary medicine) The time period during which a young mammal no longer receives effective immunity to diseases from antibodies in its mother's milk but it's own immune system is not fully developed.
   • 2007, Neville G. Gregory, ‎ Temple Grandin, Animal Welfare and Meat Production, page 104:

     The entry of E. coli in a protein-rich medium into the small intestine, which has a damaged surface from the switch to solid feed, at a time when the pig's immune response is normally low (the immunity gap), presents a high risk for a secretory diarrhea.

   • 2008, E. A. Chandler, ‎R. M. Gaskell, ‎C. J. Gaskell, Feline Medicine and Therapeutics, page 15:

     The actual age at which the immunity gap develops depends on the amount of maternally derived antibody (MDA) transferred to each kitten.

   • 2021, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Animal nutrition strategies and options to reduce the use of antimicrobials in animal production, page 11:

     Prior to this, young animals face an 'immunity gap': passive immunity is reduced and the animal's own immune system is not yet fully capable of combating pathogens.

2. (epidemiology) The time period between when an individual's or a population's immunity to a virus has waned (due to normal decrease in immune response over time or to the development of a new strain of the virus) and before a new vaccine can be given to boost immunity.
   • 2009, Michael R. Dobbs, Clinical Neurotoxicology, page 437:

     However, an immunity gap in adults coupled with the presence of large numbers of susceptible children and adolescents creates the potential for an extensive epidemic.

   • 2016, David E. Swayne, Animal Influenza, page 530:

     Thus with the usual booster (third dose) at 5-6 months there is only a small risk of an immunity gap.

   • 2022, Walter A. Orenstein, ‎Paul A. Offit, ‎Kathryn M. Edwards, Plotkin's Vaccines, page 902:

     While prior studies in Pakistan indicated near universal exposure to hepatitis A by age 14 years, the incidence of acute hepatitis A among adults has increased in recent years, indicating an immunity gap.

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see immunity,‎ gap.
   • 2000, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Commerce. Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, Saving Lives: The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act, page 26:

     In other words, there currently exists a Good Samaritan immunity gap be- tween and among the states.