Can I wait to have my newborn baby vaccinated for Hepatitis B?

I had my son 7 days ago and he is still in the NICU ( he was taken there for breathing problems but they are all cleared up now) for jaundice, but he has not gotten his Hep B shot yet because my husband and I are still not sure what to do. We have done some research on it and heard that it is okay, and possibly better, to wait till our son is a little older to get the Hep B shot because it is very unlikely for him to get Hep B at such a young age. Of course the hospital is pushing for him to have it before he leaves. I was just looking for some peoples opinions, advice, or personal experiences with giving the Hep B vaccination to there children. Can we wait? Should we wait and why? What is better and what is safer for our child?

Do not let the hospital or anyone else push you into doing something you are uncomfortable with. Vaccines are not 100% safe--though the risk is low, the risk of complications DOES exist, and should be considered.

If you are comfortable with vaccinating as suggested by the doctor, then fine. If you are not (as your post suggests) then that is also fine!! As long as your son will not be going into daycare (breeding grounds for Hep B right now) then you are ok to delay it.

I refuse to introduce something into my child's immune system before their own body has a chance to form antibodies. We delay vaccinations (My oldest didn't get any until after six months of age, my 8 month old twins got the whooping cough vaccine starting at two months because there was a bad strain of it in our area. It is the only vaccine they've had so far). We also get them one at a time--no super combo one-shot-for-ten-diseases vaccines for us. This way, if they have a reaction to a vaccine, we know which one. And we selectively vaccinate--for example, the chicken pox vaccine is off the table for us unless the boys reach age ten without ever having had the virus. We skipped the Hep B as well--our children are not in day care or frequent direct contact with other children or their changing areas, so we didn't need it. We provide tylenol an hour or so before a vaccine and keep giving it for 24-48 hours after the vaccination, as a preemptive strike against the fever that is considered a 'normal' reaction.

That is OUR method. We have one friend who follows the 'standard' schedule to the letter, another friend who found an alternative schedule they like, and another friend who forgoes vaccines altogether. As long as your choice is based on research, and not laziness (referring to both those parents who just can't be bothered to get their kids vaccinated and those who can't be bothered to think about it, so they let their pediatrician make the decisions for them), then whatever way you want to go is fine. Yes, there is a small risk your child could be exposed to the disease before being vaccinated, but it's about equal to the risk that they could react to the vaccine.

Good luck and congratz on your new baby!!!

Yes, wait!!! The hospitals and doctors are so pushy, but tell them no! THe chances of your baby getting Hep B is SO small unless you have drug needles lying around the house or something! WHich I'm sure you don't!

My son is 9 months and I see no reason to pump his little body full of a vaccine he doesn't need yet. When he's older, we'll probably give it to him, but it's a vaccine that I think is ridiculous to give to little babies.

Sure, you can wait. my lil girl is 2 weeks and me and my husband decided to wait to get her vaccinated. Her doctor said its fine and our choice. Congrats on your new lil miracle!!

Of course you can wait. I wasn't vaccinated for it until I went into college. It's only necessary for babies at risk from their mothers.

Vaccine schedules are not set in stone.

NO Hep B.

Knowing what I know and seeing what I have seen I would NEVER choose to Vaccinate my child.

As a pediatric Nurse with over 25 years experience I can only ask you to read up as much as you can BEFORE you decide to go through with vaccinating your child. I have seen a lot over the years and when it comes down to injecting a baby / child with toxins and then praying for the best outcome... well... that is like playing Russian Roulette. Do not let others bully you into vaccinating your child. NOBODY including your doctor will be there to sit up nights or care for a disabled child should yours become one of the many thousands suffering from the ill effects of vaccines.

Instilling fear into new parents and giving Vaccines is BIG BUSINESS $$$. Even if you go to a clinic and get the Vaccinations for free someone is paying for it.

If your doctor will not sign this form then that should tell you all you need to know about the safety of vaccines.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfmfuseact...



Please read:
http://www.myspace.com/Kathy99516

And watch the little YouTube Video BEFORE you decide to vaccinate

Absolutely you can wait. All vaccines are optional last time I checked. I urge you to research throughly before you give any of them. Until 5 years or so ago, no one was vaccinated for Hep B. If he's already fighting because of the respiratory thing, I would definitely wait. And don't let them make you feel like a bad mom for waiting, either. It is your choice, and an informed skeptical momis better than an ignorant easily pressured one any day. Congrats on the new baby!
Oh - and Hep B is a three part series anyway. It's not like he'll be immune the second you get the shot - He'll need two more - one in a month or two, and another in six months - before he's covered anyway.

Don't let the hospital or Dr. bully you. I waited with all 3 of my kids. The first 2 I waited until they were 2 years old and that is what I am doing with my 3rd (he is only 1 year now). You should especially wait if your baby is in the NICU and his immune system is compromised. There are a lot of worries about immunizations and autism and other complications because of the preservatives they put in them. I think that immunizations are a good thing, but you need to use good judgement. I wait until my kids are 2 and then I only do one shot at a time.
Read some articles on the internet about the pros and cons and make your own decision. Don't let the hospital or Dr. tell you what is best for your child.