Does your hospital give Hep B vaccines to newborns?

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It is recommended by the CDC and AAP to be given in the hospital but I don't know if I would want it for my babe. My small hospital just started giving it. I think approximately 75% of mothers consent for it. We give it soon after birth with the Vitamin K. How do you know if they are having a reaction to the vaccine and not TTN. If you give it, at what point do you give it? I believe the rationale for giving it in the hospital is for the babe's that aren't brought back for well child checks. Is this correct?

Could someone post a Hep.B consent that is being used in the hospital? We have the state form with the "consent" on it but it also contains the names of other patients.

Thanks!

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Specializes in correctional, med/surg, postpartum, L&D,.
We do at our hospital...we have to have informed consent first. I haven't seen a kid with a reaction yet. We give our Vit K in the L/D and the Hep B before D/C.

This is our policy. We've also never seen a reaction yet.

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Specializes in geriatrics, L&D, newborns.

Most newborns are not at risk for contracting Hep B as they are not having sex or using IV drugs. I think it is recommended because they are a captive audience, so to speak. If the mother is HbsAg postive, then that is a different story. Otherwise, there is probably no good reason for vaccinating newborns for Hep B.

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