immunity gap

Noun

immunity gap (plural immunity gaps)

1. The time period during which a young mammal no longer receives effective immunity to diseases from antibodies in its mother's milk but its own immune system is not fully developed.
   • 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.2007, Neville G. Gregory, Temple Grandin, Animal Welfare and Meat Production, page 104
   • The actual age at which the immunity gap develops depends on the amount of maternally derived antibody (MDA) transferred to each kitten.2008, E. A. Chandler, R. M. Gaskell, C. J. Gaskell, Feline Medicine and Therapeutics, page 15
2. 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.
   • 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.2009, Michael R. Dobbs, Clinical Neurotoxicology, page 437
   • Thus with the usual booster (third dose) at 5-6 months there is only a small risk of an immunity gap.2016, David E. Swayne, Animal Influenza, page 530
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see immunity, gap.
   • In other words, there currently exists a Good Samaritan immunity gap between and among the states.2000, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Commerce. Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, Saving Lives: The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act, page 26