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Babies immune systems are not fully developed until they are about 1and half. Older people's immune systems are beginning to lose their effectiveness because their immune system is beginning to break down.

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14y ago
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12y ago

Young babies have not developed a resistance to any antigens with their antibodies so they are especially at risk. The babies' immune systems are immature until they are 6 months old and not able to have appropriate immune responses to pathogens to develop the antibodies. The only protection they get is through the mother's blood in utero and through breast milk if breastfed.

The elderly have a thymus that is beginning to atrophy leading to less T-cell production, the first line in defense to pathogens (Whitman 1999).

Source:

Whitman, Deborah B (1999). The Immunology of Aging. CSA. Proquest. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. See link below in related links section.

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15y ago

Their immune systems aren't fully developed yet and they haven't had enough exposure to different pathogens to develop immunity to various strains of viruses.

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14y ago

Because their immune systems have been weakened, and have slowed down over time.

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11y ago

because their immune system not as robust and resilient as younger generations.

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11y ago

because they're old

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Q: Why do the elderly have weak immune systems?
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