Hep B ?

[aprilbaby]

Hi bub hubbers,

I am interested in finding out more about the Hep B vaccination, as I am a bit iffy about it. I do believe in immunisation (after researching the pros and cons) but I can't see the point in vaccinating for Hep B at birth, when the chances of a new born getting it are miniscule.

I have read there can be some side effects such as problems feeding. Has anyone experienced this? Or did you all find there were no problems?

Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[sarah81]

My paedeatrician said that if the mother was immunised against hep B and was in a low risk group for contracting it then the baby didn't need the newborn immunisation. But to have it in accordance with the rest of the immunisation schedule.

I wasn't immunised against hep B only found that out at beginning of pregnancy so my DS did have hep B immunisation as a newborn, it didn't have any bearing on our feeding.

Do what you feel comfortable with, perhaps talk to GP or paed you are thinking of using.

[littlepickle]

I also dont like the idea of vacinating bub at birth against hep B, I am immunised and we are not n a high risk group, so I am going to se if it is possible to have the hep B vac later with the other vaccinations

[the_queen]

Hi aprilbaby,

I've actually been researching vaccinations lately, and the hep B is one that I've decided against. For my baby, I just don't think there's any reason to have it. Here's a few links to what I read to make my decision.


http://www.vaccination.org.au/diseases/disease2087.html
Hepatitis B vaccination is now part of the childhood immunisation schedule and is recommended for all children. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates more than one third of the world's population have been infected with hepatitis B virus. Most have recovered, but there are around 350 million chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus. This is about 5% of the world's population. About a quarter of these carriers will develop serious liver disease, including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis (scarring), and cancer. The WHO estimates that hepatitis B infection results in more than one million deaths every year.

http://www.visainfo.org.au/pages/03_Health_and_Immunity/Peter_Baratosy/Peter_Baratosy.htm
Hep B Hepatitis B nosode. Avoid blood and other bodily fluids, (IV drug users should not share needles and frequent multiple sexual partners should be avoided) Clean living will prevent the chance of catching Hep B. Cheledonium in a low potency, e.g. 6X, is an excellent liver remedy and can be used for Hepatitis of any sort.
The actual statistics of Hepatitis B are very interesting. Of those catching the disease, 50% do not show and symptoms at all, overcome the virus and develop permanent immunity. 30% develop a 'flu like illness, overcome the illness and develop permanent immunity. 20% develop a clinical case of Hepatitis B and the vast majority overcome the disease and develop permanent immunity. About 5% become chronic carriers. About 1/4 of these 5% develop life threatening liver complications later in life. Approx 0.2% of these 5% die with the infection and the rest of these 5% remain symptom free with declining but continuous infectiveness.
(See www.ias.org.nz/dunbar)

http://www.det.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pdfs/ohs/HepB.pdf
HOW DOES HEPATITIS SPREAD?

The Hepatitis B virus is transmitted by blood or by certain other blody fluids entering the body by injection, through skinbreaks, or by sexual intercourse.

In Australia most cases of Hepatitis B occur among intravenous drug users who share syringes and needles. Sexual intercourse is the second most common means of transmisson. The risk of transmission through social contact or contact in the work situation is extremely low provided adequate health and safety procedures are observed.



(Also, as I understand it, the hep B vax is now listed on the immunisation schedule, so if you decide against having it I think you need to sign a "conscientous objector" statement in order to get the child into child care or school later one, plus also to qualify for the Maternal Immunisation Allowance from Centrelink. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong about this;) )

[Refresh]

YEah, I dont like the idea of injecting all those chemicals and microbes and metals into a baby that has just come out of the womb....doesnt make sense to me:confused:

[Refresh]

...and yeah, you're pretty much right about the conscientious objection form Queenie... its a good idea to get one done if you chose not to vax/selectively vax/delay vax. Schools cant refuse you becuase your kids arent vaccinated but it does make it easier. (which reminds me, we havent done ours yet...oops:o ) Also, you NEED to have it done to get the immunisation payment at 18 months or 2 years or whatever it is:)

[aprilbaby]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I will get it done but perhaps later down the track when the other vaccinations are scheduled. I can see why the government wants to wipe out Hep B, but I just don't like the idea of injecting a virus into my baby the minute it comes out the womb, when they are so fresh and perfect. Why mess with something when you don't absolutely have you?

[Manxie]

Hi aprilbaby

I'm totally with you on this one!

I too could not understand why they immunised when bubs was born. I have since found out that part of the reason is that they want to capture as much of the population as possible. If they immunise at birth they "get" those babies which may not be brought to healthcare professionals again.

What gets me is why they cant be a bit more honest about it and give people the choice. I didnt get DD done at birth she is having hers along with her scheduled ones. My gp told me that this vaccine is most effective when given to young bubs so that is why I agreed, reluctantly for her to have it at all.

Grrrrrrr:mad:

[pegasus]

The problem with immunisations is the what if? They are basically an insurance plan. When bub's are first born they basically have a lot of our immunities, but not fully formed. The problem is that although we may not want to immunise our perfect babies, there are a lot of diseases out there now which weren't a part of our world when we (or our parents were born), or maybe they were, but people died from them and noone knew what they were. On the other hand there have been a lot of diseases which have all but been eradicated.

Call it a curse of modern day society that we are immunising against diseases which we hope our children won't be exposed to anyway, but call it a wonder of modern day medicine that we can immunise against them.

Manxie, it may not be an untruth that it is best to immunise at birth (I'm no expert), but I'd think that if they are immunised at birth then their bodies may have less of a reaction to the antibodies. (I had no feeding or other difficulties with DS).

The problem with choice of immunising is that if you don't get the majority of the population done, then there's a better chance of an epidemic in later years. Imagine if there was an immunisation for Avian Flu (bird flu), I bet that if someone told the parents of the people who have been infected with this in the last year had said something to them 20/30 years ago (which is when it would have had to have been to have captured them), they would have said why?, the chances are slim...(okay, not really an issue in Australia), but just an illustration.

[xkwzit]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I will get it done but perhaps later down the track when the other vaccinations are scheduled. I can see why the government wants to wipe out Hep B, but I just don't like the idea of injecting a virus into my baby the minute it comes out the womb, when they are so fresh and perfect. Why mess with something when you don't absolutely have you?

Hi Aprilbaby
I also thought like you do. I didn't want to give my tiny newborn the HepB vax even before we had started bf properly. I just felt it was too much to possibly have a reaction and not be able to take on more fluids because my milk hadn't come in yet or we were having problems. So I signed a form to say I didn't want DD1 vaxxed at birth (we did have the vit K inj).

When I discussed it with my paed (because I was quite happy to bring her back in a couple of weeks for it), he said she didn't need it, because she's not in a high risk environment. If she had the shots as scheduled (at 2, 4, 6 months back then) she would still be fully protected.

It was his opinion that the gov has taken a stand to eliminate Hep B and therefore offer this inj to all newborns. But its PC gone a bit mad, because they only need to offer it to newborns in a high risk environment. But no-one wants to say to another "your child is at high risk, we want to give them this shot", its just easier to offer it to all without having to make a judgement about the level of risk a baby is at.

Cheers

[Notchalk]

To become fully vaccinated against Hep B you need 3 injections. That's 3.. not 1 or 4. Currently there are 4 listed on the immunisation schedule, yes, to capture the babies before they are let loose into the community. I think it is ridiculous to use this reasoning, as if the babies never return to a health professional again, they're still not immune, as they've only had 1 dose.

I didn't realise you had to sign a conscientous objector form for the birth hep B... Is it too late if my bub is 8 months old??

Jo

[xkwzit]

Hi Notchalk
I don't know where you are, but I didn't have to sign an objection form for not giving my DDs hep B at birth. Their gov records show them both fully immunised with only the 2, 4 and 6 months shots. Was almost 2 years ago though.

The form I signed (or didn't sign in my case) was a hospital preadmission permission form for the baby to be given hep b and vit K. The vit K I signed, the other I didn't.

Cheers

[Manxie]

Manxie, it may not be an untruth that it is best to immunise at birth (I'm no expert), but I'd think that if they are immunised at birth then their bodies may have less of a reaction to the antibodies. (I had no feeding or other difficulties with DS).

To claify - my g.p. said its most effective when given when they are babies but it is not necessary on the day they are born.


...was his opinion that the gov has taken a stand to eliminate Hep B and therefore offer this inj to all newborns - I think the key point here is the word "offer". In the hospital I was at it wasnt really offered it was this is what they were going to do unless you objected!


I think it is ridiculous to use this reasoning, as if the babies never return to a health professional again, they're still not immune, as they've only had 1 dose. - Good point Jo I will raise this with my gp when I harrass him on my next visit.


its just easier to offer it to all without having to make a judgement about the level of risk a baby is at. - absolutely now this makes sense! I suppose therefore it is down to the parents to evaluate their baby's risk and make that decision. I just wish they were more open about it rather than making you feel like you are a whacky parent for not agreeing to the vaccine at birth!

[xkwzit]

Hey Manxie
Preach it sister :D

[Manxie]

Xkwzit-no wonder my gp hates me:rolleyes: I read somewhere on the net that the parents least likely to vaccinate were dr's & nurses (yep I'm a nurse!)

Next issue - MMR:eek: My gp has said he will debate that one with me better book a double appointment LOL!

[mummyof5]

Having planned homebirth's for my children, the hep B shot was only an issue for the one hospital transfer I had for an ECS with my 2nd. DD was about to be given vitamin K when my mother who is an RN stepped in and informed them that I did not wish her to have it, otherwise they would have just gone ahead - at this point I was still in recovery waiting to go back to my room!!
The same with the hep B vac, I was having a shower when doctor turned up to do check up so we could go home, she was approx 26 hours old, my mother in law was with her, and hubby, who had just come back from putting stuff in the car, came racing in to see whether or not I wanted her to have it, as again they would have gone ahead, no questions asked, and without me having signed any kind of permission forms....

[Funkychicken]

This Hep B shot given at birth wasn't around when my older two were born but with our latest bub it was offered, which I declined. In fact the midwives were quite anti it and almost, but not quite, suggested it was not necessary.

[jessgray]

i got the hep b shots while at high school as did my DP
i think it wasnt offered to infants and newborns then coz they werent really sure if was safe well thats my guess. :laughing: