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Hi Lisa,
I don't believe the baby was at risk of catching
Hepatitis B. Which means it will be absolutely tragic if the side effects are
long reaching. I don't believe I would be forced to give a vaccine if I didn't
want to do it. I would probably be able to ask a colleague to do it if I was
unable to do it. However, I have to think about this. I will be seeing the
manager on Monday, as I am not happy with the level of information parents
receive, and we do know the carrier status of all the mothers. I do know though
that the government monitors compliance of maternity units with giving Hep B
vac, and it could attract unwelcome attention if the rate of vaccination goes
down in our unit. This is not a reason not to do it, but may have implications.
There is an adverse reactions register for vaccination, which I have mentioned
to the medical staff caring for the baby.
Nicole.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 12:33
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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