There is a recommended schedule for childhood immunisations.

It gives children the best chance of developing immunity against these diseases in a safe and effective way and minimises their risk of catching the diseases.

The importance of timing

If a vaccine is given when a baby still has antibodies to the disease, the antibodies can stop the vaccine working.
This is why routine childhood immunisations do not start until a baby is 2 months old, when the antibodies a baby gets from its mother have stopped working.

This is also why it is important to stick to the immunisation schedule, as a delay can leave a baby unprotected.

Newborn babies

Newborn babies have some immunity to disease passed on to them from their mothers.

In the last three months of pregnancy, some antibodies pass through the placenta from the mother to the unborn baby.

The amount and types of antibodies depend on the mother's immunity.

The protection given to the baby by these antibodies varies.

For example, a mother's antibodies to measles usually protect her baby against the disease for 6-12 months, but those against other diseases, such as whooping cough and Hib, only last a few weeks.

This is why our immunisation schedule starts at 2 months of age.

Premature babies

Babies who were born early are at greater risk from infections than babies born on time.

This is because their immune systems are less mature, and also they do not have as many antibodies passed on to them from their mothers.

Premature babies tend to be at greater risk of infection than full-term babies. Therefore it is important that premature babies receive their vaccines according to the recommended schedule.

Many scientific studies have shown that giving premature babies vaccines according to the recommended schedule is safe and effective.