Why Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns?

[indigo girl]

I never could understand the rationale behind the need for this vaccine for newborns. Don't read this if you want a peer review.

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/belkin.pdf

[Jolie, BSN]

Other than for high-risk babies, I too have never understood the rationale behind Hep B shot for newborns & usually within 1 hr. of birth!

Another thing that boggles my mind (and I've read a vast amount of material on), is the number of bad reactions that ARE NOT REPORTED TO VAERS DATABASE!!

There's been a few bad ones happen where I work that went unreported...makes a person wonder :redlight:

I support parents informing themselves and making careful, thoughtful decisions regarding vaccinating their children, and feel I must clarify some mis-conceptions.

Hepatitis B vaccine is offered to parents of newborns. Except for cases of documented Hepatitis B in the mother, in which time is of the essence to protect the newborn from infection, the vaccine is NOT given within an hour of birth. If given in the hospital, it is usually given on day 2 or 3 of life, allowing parents ample time to discuss the vaccine with their pediatricians. Many choose to decline or defer the vaccine until a later time. In 11 years of OB/NICU nursing, I have never seen a parent "guilted" into the vaccine.

I am also curious about the statement of "bad, unreported reactions". Hepatitis B is usually a well-tolerated vaccine, in all age groups. While the potential of reaction exists with any vaccine, I believe it is an over-statement to imply that serious reactions are common with the Hepatitis B vaccine, and wonder why "serious" reactions occurring in the hospital setting would go unreported. Who is failing to do his/her job?