I too have trouble with the hep B vaccine. I give parents accurate and unbiased information (instead of the propaganda given them in the pamphlets) and also encourage them to take the decision as an important one, and talk about VISA etc. Although, I have to say I am not pushy in this, and those parents who have made up their minds, I give the vaccine without much further information given. I try always to present it as a choice that needs to be informed. What I've heard, but don't remember where from, was that the birth and early vaccination is, like Emily said, a way of "getting to" all babies while they're in hospital, i.e. a control mechanism, like the breast check and pap smear questions in pregnancy - while we've got them, lets knock these other things off the list. As if women aren't able to maintain their own health. Anyway, I thought too that it was all in order to have a population of teenagers and adults (in 15 years time) who are immune to hep B. I think it hasn't much to do with the risk of hep B in newborns at all (in fact almost non-existant surely). And even with this as the wanted outcome, I heard also (wish I could remember a source for this) that these teenagers are likely to need a booster anyway, as the early childhood ones won't last. Why then do they not just immunise the teenagers in the first place? I too am sceptical and wonder about money-making for the drug companies.
Liz 
----- Original Message -----
From: JoFromOz
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 7:52 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B vaccine reaction

Nicole Carver wrote:
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.
Hi Nicole - just make sure you document that in the adverse vaccination reaction section at the bottom of the vaccination card for the baby... Is there something to fill in for pharmacy, too?  I am sure there is a lot of paperwork to fill out for that kind of thing.  Just to make sure it gets into the stats for the 'safety of Hep B vax'.

Scary.

Jo (RM)


Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.1.0 - Release Date: 18/02/05
Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.1.0 - Release Date: 18/02/05

Reply via email to