|
Hi Nicole and lisa,
Are any questions asked re family history of
allergies/ vaccine reactions before giving the shots?
My own first baby (now 30)had a similar reaction to
his first triple antigen (the first vaccine in those days), my mother had a
collapse after a tetanus shot requiring an ambulance and adrenalin and my second
child as a teenager who had cut his hand on a rusty piece of iron was taken by
his boss for a tetanus shot - the following day he collapsed/
stopped breathing and ended up in hospital being resuscitated -this was recorded
as a vaccine reaction.
My younger children are unvaccinated depite much
pressure/ school forms and even a huge dressing down from a GP who called
me negligent and ignorant.
At a talk last year (at a midwifery conference in
SA) by a govt person on the 'logic' of vaccinating, her reasoning was as
you mentioned that some babies of carriers - in the US!! she said - had
slipped through and not been vaccinated at birth. Apparently "some of these
women sued!!"
I find this very flimsy and fearful reasoning
to give vaccinations to a pure little newborn - surely this is occasion for
parents to take personal responsibility - you would know if you were a carrier
and so would your carers as it would be on your records. Why should
women who aren't carriers be pressured to expose their babies to
unnecessary risks? Especially since babies are not going to be engaging in risky
behaviour!
As I researched after my own children's reactions I
became very cynical that much of this pressure is driven by $$$ -if as you
say, if the 2 month vaccination will fully cover a baby (if it is the parent's
choice to vaccinate) surely the shot at birth for all babies is overkill?
Sounds like that could have been literally, Nicole - it must have been a
terrible shock for you and the parents. I really feel for you about being
anxious to inject more babies - how do you deal with this in your workplace?
So Im wondering - are parents asked about family
history of allergies/ reactions to vaccines?
Are vaccines given to well babies? when are they
given to premmies? Babies who have had any health problems/
respiratory difficulties at birth? Or difficult births?
What is defined as a reaction severe enough /
concerning enough to be referred to the Children's special clinic?
Many babies have red limbs, irritability, fever -
is this enough to be cautious about subsequent vaccines?
Pinky
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 5:33
AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B vaccine
reaction
Thats really interesting Nicole,
thankyou!
Coming from the uk, I know my
case,,and can state it..but being here I have found a high uptake off
vaccinations amongst babies and children..and have already had to sign all
sorts to get my children into school. I do believe in parents making
informed decisions..but often found the info available is biased..(in both
directions!)
As a midwife...if your beliefs
were such....could you refuse to vaccinate babies?
And to clarify for me... if a
mother is not carrying hep B...how would a baby contact
it? Through a blood transfusion?
Do you have to report reactions
like that?
Hope you dont mind me
asking,..
lisax
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 9:11
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B
vaccine reaction
Hi Lisa,
Welcome to Australia!
Hepatitis B vaccine has been given routinely at
birth now for maybe five years. One of the most common causes of Hepatitis B
is contracting it from your mother at birth, if she is a carrier.I believe
the practice of Hep B vaccination at birth came about because there
were cases of babies of known Hep B carriers who did not receive
immunoglobulin and vaccination at birth, also because the conversion to Hep
B carrier status is very high if you contract the disease in infancy. When
universal hep B administration came in, most midwives were not happy, but it
was still introduced. The doctors order it and the parents are given an
information sheet to read, which I believe does not give the whole picture
(including that if the birth dose is not given, the baby still gets a full
course by having Hep B vax at 2,4, and 12 months of age). Parents sign a
consent form, and then the vaccine is given if they wish to proceed. I like
to give the parents the risk factors for contracting Hep B, and the
information about the normal immunisation schedule, and let them decide. All
the women have their Hep B and C status checked antenatally, and are
likely to know if they are a carrier. Many ask what the majority of parents
do and are guided by that. Most parents at this stage are going ahead with
it.
While I can't prove that the incident I
experienced tonight was caused by the vaccine, it only occured at the most
10 minutes after the vaccine. I don't know if the baby is contraindicated
for further vaccines, but would be very careful. It probably should be done
at the Royal Childrens Hospital where they have a specialised clinic for
babies who have had vaccine reactions. I am not sure how I will be able
to give the vaccine to another baby after that experience.
Kind regards,
Nicole.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 11:27
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B
vaccine reaction
Hello everyone.
I'm fairly new to
Australia, (from the Uk) but have been an avid follower of this site
for some time now.
And, by way of an
introduction..and as a first post I feel compelled to ask about this
vaccine....by my nature, I havnt vaccinated my kids...but as far as this
particular vaccine is concerned....why is it given
routinely??
I ask, because I thought that
hep B was passed on by blood and sex..(to be crude)...what infant is
genuinely at risk of this??
If a baby has a reaction like
this...(hope she is ok!!) does that mean she is contraindicated for future
vaccines??
Many thanks,
lisa
Perth
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005
7:48 PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] Hep B
vaccine reaction
Hi All,
Have just had a scary experience when a
baby became floppy and stopped breathing three times after the Hep
B vaccine. She is ok, but being observed for 24 hours in special care.
It just reinforces my belief that giving all babies Hep B prior to
discharge from hospital is unnecessary, and where there are no risk
factors present, more dangerous than not giving it.
Nicole
Carver.
|
