Question

The parent of a newborn asks the nurse why, except for hepatitis B vaccine, the immunization schedule does not start until the infant is 2 months old. Which response would the nurse provide?

A. "A newborn's spleen can't produce efficient antibodies."
B. "Infants younger than 2 months are rarely exposed to infectious disease."
C. "The immunization will attack the infant's immature immune system and cause the disease."
D. "Maternal antibodies interfere with the development of active antibodies by the infant when immunized."

Answer 1

The correct response is that maternal antibodies can interfere with the development of active antibodies by the infant when immunized, which is why most vaccines are scheduled to begin at 2 months of age.

Step-by-step explanation:

When asked why the immunization schedule for infants does not start until they are 2 months old, except for the Hepatitis B vaccine, the nurse could explain that this is due to the presence of maternal antibodies. These antibodies, particularly IgG, are transferred from the maternal blood to the fetus via the placenta and offer passive immunity to the newborn. This natural protection can interfere with the infant’s ability to develop active antibodies in response to some vaccines. Because the passive immunity gradually decreases, vaccines are scheduled for when they are most likely to be effective and when the infant's own immune system is more mature and capable of producing a sustained immune response after vaccination.