Is the Hepatitis B Vaccine Necessary at Birth?
Childhood vaccinations have become a hot topic recently, with many parents following their own vaccination schedule. The Hepatitis B vaccine is an example of a vaccine that children commonly receive at birth. But is it necessary?
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Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause liver failure, liver cancer, and death. Carriers of the virus may show no symptoms, and may not know that they are infected until the disease has progressed. Meanwhile, they may be unknowingly spreading the disease to others.
Methods of Transmission
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Contact with infected body fluids is the primary method of Hepatitis B transmission. A Hepatitis B-positive mother may transmit it to her baby during birth.
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Hepatitis B Vaccine Schedule
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U.S. guidelines specify a three-dose Hepatitis B vaccine schedule. The baby should receive the doses at birth, one to two months old, and six months old.
Hepatitis B-positive Mothers and Pregnancy
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A child born to a Hepatitis B-positive mother should follow the standard vaccine schedule and receive a Hepatitis B immunoglobulin injection at birth. Tests between ages nine to 18 months will confirm the child is immune and virus-free.
Importance of the Hepatitis B Vaccine
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Following the Hepatitis B vaccine schedule results in over 95 percent effectiveness of the vaccine and lifelong protection. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that the first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine is necessary at birth to reduce the risk of infection due to maternal testing errors and exposure to the virus in the child's household.
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