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Dear Joy
I am curious to know how a newborn baby can or does
get a Hep B infection from staff
midwives being the staff with the most contact are
almost always Hep B vaccincated and checked as I think would be
paediatricians??
Denise Hynd
"Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the
sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone,
our bodies will be handled."
� Linda Hes
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 5:13
AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B vaccine
reaction
Hi Lisa and Nicole,
Like you, I have serious concerns about giving Hep B at such
an early age. I believe we are placing a very heavy insult on a
baby's natural immune system. I asked this question of an Immunisation
Nurse who was a speaker at a seminar I went to and she said that most cases of
Hep B with babies are contracted from staff! I'm also concerned that
parents are not given enough information on the pros and cons of this first
immunisation as, almost without exception, they sign the permission
form. I certainly find that babies are very often upset and crying the
night after it is given (I work night shift and often spend many hours walking
the baby in a sling when mum is too tired to cope any longer).
Certainly, if it is to be given I think it is preferable to give it later in
the stay in hospital, not immediately after birth together with the Konakion -
another injection that parents never seem to refuse.
Joy
Joy Cocks RN (Div 1) RM CBE IBCLC
email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 0:33
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.
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