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Hi to all who have been following the discussion
about the reaction to Hep B vaccine I described on this list.
The baby is now out of SCBU, but did have
several dusky episodes. Silent reflux is being queried. The symptoms were
only noted after the giving of the vaccine, but I don't suppose we'll ever know
for sure. I have seen the manager today (yes, she was in on a Sunday!) and she
is going to follow up on my incident report tomorrow. Another colleague who
looked after the baby in SCBU is going to find out about reporting adverse
reactions to the Dept of Human Services.
Unfortunately I am having next week off, so won't
see the baby again before discharge, but I will follow up their progress upon my
return. I still feel quite concerned about this little one. Thanks to everyone
for their support.
Nicole.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 5:31
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B vaccine
reaction
Thanks Nicole..
How is the baby doing?? I
hope the parents are ok too.
From my own experience....much
fuss is made of those of us that dont vaccinate...but little is made
of adverse reactions ..or even if vaccinated kids then go on to develop the
disease that they are "protected" from. I was involved in a so called
epidemic of measles 2 years ago. All of the kids unvaccinated were reported
when they got measles..none of those that were vaccinated were. Its
scandelous. Figures were definately tweaked.
It must be really tough for
you hope it goes well with your manager on monday. Could you offer to help
rewrite the info given? I had a peek at the site in SA earlier and that looked
great!
Good luck,
lisax
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 2:08
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B
vaccine reaction
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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