This type of immunity is called passive immunity, which means the baby 's body has been given antibodies rather than making them.
However, immunity in newborn babies is only temporary and starts to decrease after the first few weeks. Antibodies are also contained in breast milk, so babies who are breastfed have passive immunity for longer. The thick, yellowish milk (colostrum) that is produced for the first few days after birth is particularly rich in antibodies.
Premature babies are at higher risk of disease because their immune systems aren 't as strong and they haven 't had as many antibodies passed to them.
Because newborn immunity is only temporary, it 's important to begin childhood immunisations at two months. This applies whether the baby is premature or full term. The first immunisation includes whooping cough and Hib, because immunity to these diseases decreases the fastest. Passive immunity to measles, mumps and rubella usually lasts about a year, which is why the MMR jab is given around 13 months.
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