Final answer:
Vaccines elicit active humoral immunity by introducing a form of the pathogen that stimulates an individual's immune response, leading to antibody production and immunological memory. Passive immunity, the direct transfer of antibodies, is less satisfactory as it doesn't confer long-term protection or memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vaccines produce active humoral immunity. This is because during vaccination, a killed or weakened pathogen, or its components, are introduced into the body. This leads to the active activation of the individual's immune system which results in the production of antibodies and the development of immunological memory without causing the disease. This memory is critical as it allows for a quicker and more effective immune response upon future exposures to the pathogen.
Passive immunity, on the other hand, involves the direct transfer of antibodies from another source, such as through mother's milk or antibody injections. This does not lead to the formation of immunological memory, making passive immunity less satisfactory in the long term, as protection is temporary and the individual's body does not learn to fight off future infections independently.