Is this really the best thing we could be doing for our precious little babies when they are first born?
This is more than a pro/anti vaccination debate. Anything that interferes with early bonding, breatfeeding etc has to be questioned.
Research could save newborns
From: http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/
By Clare Masters
April 25, 2006
NEWBORN babies could soon be vaccinated at birth against bacterial diseases after scientists discovered how to boost a baby's immune system, guarding them against possible fatal infections.
Dr John Smythe, a neo-natologist at the Royal Hospital for Women at Randwick, Sydney, yesterday hailed the finding, which would close the current two-month window before a baby is immunised against the infections.
Babies are already immunised against hepatitis B at birth and given a vitamin K shot but the new findings will allow newborns to be protected against a host of other infections.
"It's exciting because their bodies don't take up immunisations for tetanus, as an example, at that age," he said.
Most adults and children can repel contagious bugs with a group of receptors called TLRs that sit on the surface of white-blood cells – the body's defence system.
These recognise bacteria and viruses and trigger immune cells to attack them.
But newborns' immune systems have not developed this network, making them vulnerable to conditions like tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
By studying white blood cells from the newborns' cord blood, scientists from the Children's Hospital Boston found a way to boost a particular TLR and strengthen the infant's immune system.
The researchers believe their findings could be used for a vaccination given at birth, closing off the current two-month window.
"From a global health perspective, if you can give a vaccine at birth, a much higher percentage of the population can be covered," researcher Ofer Levy said. He said this particular vaccination could also be given to babies as treatment for infections or as a preventive measure against a disease or bio-terrorist threat.
Dr Smythe said newborns, particularly premature babies, were vulnerable to bacteria and viruses.
"Their immune system isn't as efficient when they encounter an infection," he told The Daily Telegraph.
"There isn't a huge amount at the moment that we can do.
"The period before they are vaccinated is a vulnerable one and this is quite a breakthrough." He said a newborn's entire system was immature and unable to cope with some bugs such as meningitis and whooping cough.
