Hepatitis B vaccine administration

Specialties NICU

Published

Wondering what protocols are being followed r/t administration of Hepatitis B vaccine. Our pediatricians recently chose to give the vaccine w/in 2 hours of delivery while the baby is still transitioning. I have my own opinions about the whole Hept B vaccine for infants, altogether, unless mom is Hept B Positive, but just wondering what majority of units are doing. Also looking for a more "full disclosure" teaching sheet other than the one issued per CDC. To clarify, this is a basically well-baby/level 2 SCN.

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Specializes in ICN.

We are an all children's hospital with all of our preemies and infants transported in, so what we do would be vastly different. Sometimes the babies have had a hep B shot after they arrive, but most times not. If they are very sick, we don't give the shot for days or even weeks. The order sheet from the computer with the dose on it must be signed by the baby's parent after they've been told or read the info on hep B.

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Thank you, dawnbeth...so is the information you give the parents, before they sign the permit, what is provided by CDC(VIS) or one your education department has written themselves?

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Specializes in ICN.

I think it's from the CDC, it's a preprinted info sheet.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We only use the ones from the CDC, it is the only one our legal dept will let us use. If you have a desire to change anything like that, you need to look into it first.

We don't give our hep B until 1800 grams. Newborns have until 12 hours of age or not at all if the parents do not consent. We have to have verbal consent in the chart to be able to give any immunization.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

We use the CDC information sheet, as it's federal law that parents receive this.

Most parents are able to understand this and don't request any additional printed information, though some do want to talk w/ the pediatrician before signing the consent.

Unless Mom is HepB+, we don't have a time frame in which the babies must receive the vax. Our peds are laid back and a good number of parents opt against it. (I work in wellbaby too.)

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