Hepatitis B vaccination for LO?

jpsquared

At my childbirth class yesterday, the instructor mentioned that while the baby is in the hospital, we will be asked whether we want to vaccinate for Hep B, and the hospital staff cannot give any advice either way regarding vaccinations.  If you've looked into vaccinations, what are your thoughts (either way)?  Are there any risks/concerns with this vaccine in particular?

Luv4Minnesota

I don't know of any risks/concerns, but since Hep B can only be sexually transmistted or through a blood transfusion we are waiting until LO is older to give it to him. 

MrsClark8109

I was vaccinated against Hep B as a baby (which I dont think was common 20-some years ago) because my mom was a dentist and I spent alot of time at her office where there are scrubs/gloves ect.

With all of the medical professionals in our families we intend to vaccinate against about everything, LOs wont be around grandma's office and scrubs like I was but we have to MDs in the family who insist that vaccinating is of utmost importance. Most vaccines carry a mild risk, but compared to what they prevent against we believe it makes sense. Especially with the rise of mumps, measles and other diseases they thought were all but extinct until people stopped vaccinating and now they are making a resurgence.

I also talked to my OB about getting the flu shot and a couple other booster vaccines at the end of 3rd tri--there is some evidence that mom can pass on some of the immune protection to babies if given the vaccines during 3rd tri.

Janimal

We didn't get the Hep shot in the hospital because DD was at no risk for it.  We started those shots later with the pedi. 

JhawkCE

It's part of the normal schedule for immunizations for infants in our state and my husband lazily wears his scrubs and dirty O.R. shoes home and then proceeds to sit in them all night so yes, we had him immunized.  (He does change scrubs if he gets them dirty during the day and he tries to remember to leave his shoes out of our son's reach).

joy143dh

Luv4Minnesota:

I don't know of any risks/concerns, but since Hep B can only be sexually transmistted or through a blood transfusion we are waiting until LO is older to give it to him. 

This is not entirely true.  Hep B can be transferred from mother to infant, which is why it is recommend that babies receive it before leaving the hospital.  Fatality rate among infants that have it transferred to them is high.  The vaccine is considered very safe with no documented associations with side effects or disorders.   This particular vaccine poses no risk and does not need to be delayed. (We have DS1 on a delayed schedule, but did not delay this one.)

ellewoodsSC

Luv4Minnesota:

I don't know of any risks/concerns, but since Hep B can only be sexually transmistted or through a blood transfusion we are waiting until LO is older to give it to him. 

This is not exactly correct.  Hepatitis B can also be spread through body fluids such as saliva, but not via casual contact.  Mothers are tested early in the prenatal screenings, so if a mother is positive, the early shots are essential.  I hope you will find lots of useful information through reputable sources such as CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, your pediatrician.  TB is not one of them so take the opinions here with a grain of salt.

 

 

jonnygurl76

Janimal:

We didn't get the Hep shot in the hospital because DD was at no risk for it.  We started those shots later with the pedi. 

this.  also DD wasn't going to daycare, i am SAHM so she didn't need it right away.  she only got the Vit. K shot at the hospital.

Traycee1242

We declined the Hep B in the hospital... I feel very uncomfortable giving a brand new baby a vaccine... and I am 100% pro vaccine.

Because I'm a SAHM and my children don't go to daycare, we give the Hep vaccine's starting at 2 years old.

HTH

MeaganChristie

https://drtenpenny.com/why_hepatitis_b.aspx

 

CakeBatter

Check with your pedi - i think some of them give it in a combo vax with LO's first series of shots so it would be redundant.

txbabs111

MeaganChristie:

https://drtenpenny.com/why_hepatitis_b.aspx

 

  We declined the vaccine in the hospital and there was absolutely no pressure placed on us by anyone to have DD vaccinated at that time. We had already discussed the fact that we wanted to delay this vaccine with our pedi and worked it into DD's schedule so that she is now completely caught up.

emmyloustu

We declined it in the hospital and didn't start the series until she was almost a year old. I would have continued to wait, but DD needed to be in the hospital and have surgery, so I wanted the vax before that.

Mrs.Greeko

We got it in the hospital for DD#1 because I didn't know anything about it and felt like I might as well.  She ended up being a really sleepy baby and I've read that the HepB shot can be a contributing factor to that.  It resulted in BFing issues.

With my second DD we did not get the HepB shot right away.  She wasn't born at a hospital so the earliest she couls have gotten it was at her 2 week check with the pedi.  We chose to hold off until she was 2.  I figured the chances that she was having unprotected sex or sharing dirty needles were pretty slim so she didn't need it right away.  The reason we got it at 2 was because here they need it before they can go to school so she needed to get it before she was 5 and she wasn't scheduled for any other shots at her 2 year appointment and I was going to have to be back at the pediatrician for my other kids at the appropriate times for the other two shots in the series so that timing made the most sense. 

With my DS, he will also be born at the birth center so he won't be able to get the HepB shot right away.  Either way we will hold off on it for awhile.  He'll get it before starting school.  Maybe when he's around 2 as well. 

MrsG.060708

DD gets all vaccines, as will DD2. With the Hep B vaccine, however, we denied it at the hospital and got it at her 1- month checkup. We felt she had been through enough with labor, and I couldn't stand having my newborn pricked by another needle so we just waited a little bit. We've kept on schedule with all other vaccines.

FWIW, DD never had a reaction to any vaccines, except a slight fever when she was about 6 months.

Faliny

I haven't even looked at the comments, because I'm sure this is a very hot topic. I did look into Hepatitis B information, from biased and non-biased sources (which is difficult to find!). I did not want to get this vaccine for my daughter, I wanted to skip it. Unfortunately, In Florida, it is all the vaccines or non of these vaccines. There are risks associated with the vaccines like any others, although not enough research (Non-biased research) has gone into really, seriously, looking at the effects. I am nervous for that vaccine, but I do want her to get other vaccines (like whooping cough, which right now is raging in my city :-(). Just take some time, read through information and pay attention to where the information is coming from. Good luck! 

MommySept13

I'm an EMT, by state law it is required that I be vaccinated or else I cannot provide healthcare to any of my patients. I completed my Hep B series when I was still in grade school. That said, because of the profession I am in, and what I am come into contact with while I am at work, that I could possibly carry home, LO will be vaccinated at the hospital after delivery. This is the best protection I can offer him without putting him in a bubble. I am also a TB carrier, because I have been exposed numerous times throughout my career in EMS. So every year I must receive a chest X-ray in order to remain on active-duty status at my job. My daycare arrangements are through my best friend, whom is a pre-school teacher for a low-income based pre-school, meaning alot of the children she takes care of, are not properly immunized, if they even receive regular check-ups at all. So anything she could carry home to LO while she is watching him is a danger as well. For these reasons alone it is very important to me to have LO immunized ASAP.