Hep B - Page 2

[hpienkos]

well what about if a kid taking a toothpick and poking into someone and made a "cut" then using the same toothpick into a kid and breaking the skin as well. Chances of that passing? Anyone?

Or what about not washing off a spoon that has been used by tons of people at a church and the kid uses it to eat?

what are your thoughts?

[Deborah]

I guess every parent has to balance the risks and benefits of every vaccine. But this isn't one I worry about in the U.S. and in the cultural milieu where my grandkids hang out.

insidevaccines analysis of the scary stats from the CDC:
http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...s-hepatitis-b/

[alegna]

Originally Posted by peachweenie

I'm all for delaying Hep B vaccinations if you are a responsible parent who monitors your child's healthcare, but please consider that the kids who are probably at the most risk for Hepatitis B in later life don't have such parents.

Except that the research I've seen shows it wears off in about 10 yrs...

-Angela

[alegna]

Originally Posted by hpienkos

well what about if a kid taking a toothpick and poking into someone and made a "cut" then using the same toothpick into a kid and breaking the skin as well. Chances of that passing? Anyone?

Or what about not washing off a spoon that has been used by tons of people at a church and the kid uses it to eat?

what are your thoughts?

Spoon won't pass it.

Toothpick? Does this happen often? Never heard of such a thing... taught in a variety of situations, have a hard time seeing two kids getting poked bloody before someone came to an adult about what was going on.

-Angela

[hpienkos]

"Toothpick? Does this happen often? Never heard of such a thing... taught in a variety of situations, have a hard time seeing two kids getting poked bloody before someone came to an adult about what was going on."

Yeah well unfortunately we live next to a child who is totally manipulative and mean, and did that to my daughter, poked an adult with a toothpick and then onto my daughter and then to others for fun! And the parent didn't do anything about that child doing it!!! AUGH! So my hubby and I thought we would never vaccinate, but then things like this can happen and then you have no control, BOOM your child is now infected!!! And now we are faced with possibly getting some vaccinations like hep b, hep a and such. Please help alleviate our fears and share with us your thoughts!!!!

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by hpienkos

"Toothpick? Does this happen often? Never heard of such a thing... taught in a variety of situations, have a hard time seeing two kids getting poked bloody before someone came to an adult about what was going on."

Yeah well unfortunately we live next to a child who is totally manipulative and mean, and did that to my daughter, poked an adult with a toothpick and then onto my daughter and then to others for fun! And the parent didn't do anything about that child doing it!!! AUGH! So my hubby and I thought we would never vaccinate, but then things like this can happen and then you have no control, BOOM your child is now infected!!! And now we are faced with possibly getting some vaccinations like hep b, hep a and such. Please help alleviate our fears and share with us your thoughts!!!!

There is so much in the literature about how nasty this vaccine is. It would take me 2 hours to list all that I have. check out the VEARS too. I would never get this for a child because he may get poked with a toothpick. The risk of anything being passed like this is so small. Why do you think you need the hep A vax??

[ericswifey27]

My friend just asked me this yesterday...

Basically my son was given the Hep B vax without my permission because it is easier to mass vaccinate every baby to catch the very few that might be at risk then it is to screen appropriately to find out who is most at risk. In other words it is a $ saving procedure, and like other posters said, hey why not, you've got a captive audience- hey they can't fight back, can they? And since the babies aren't theirs (although you would think so with the blatant disregard to informed consent that almost always occurs in the delivery ward), the collateral damage is considered insignificant enough to stop this truly barbaric practice.

[bubbamummy]

well by the sounds of it im very glad it wasnt offered and that my lil man didnt get it

I have found out also that in the UK its only offered to babies of mothers who are themselves Heb B pos. and if they will be traveling to a country of 'substandard' levels of cleanliness (youre offered it if youre going 'traveling')

[CHoney]

nak

Just a small rant...I live in BC. Canada and they now have a 6-in-1 vax which includes Hep B for infants. We're the only place in Canada that has started to offer this. The reason is because they want Hep B to become a thing of the past. I would prefer immunization for this when your child is older and would be more at risk.

ETA ~ I checked with the Health Unit and they still will have Pedicel available for parents who do not wish their infant to be immunized for Hep B.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by peachweenie

I have Hepatitis B and I'm afraid to tell people because of this kind of untrue characterization of all Hepatitis B carriers.

It is not an assault on your character; it is a stated reason for giving Hep B at birth. That the people most at risk (IV drug users and the promicuous) are the least likely to be available for vaccination; a teen is less likely to see a doctor (than a newborn) but more likely to engage in those behaviors. That it is "too much trouble" to test every mom, particularly those who come to the hospital with an unknown history, is also a reason giving for universal Hep B newborn dose.

[Deborah]

bumping this up

just because I thought it was an excellent discussion of the topic

[zylph]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

It is not an assault on your character; it is a stated reason for giving Hep B at birth. That the people most at risk (IV drug users and the promicuous) are the least likely to be available for vaccination; a teen is less likely to see a doctor (than a newborn) but more likely to engage in those behaviors. That it is "too much trouble" to test every mom, particularly those who come to the hospital with an unknown history, is also a reason giving for universal Hep B newborn dose.

Also, the normal HBsAg test is not completely accurate (due to the low background of ELISA failures, occult infections, or HBV escape mutants). A false negative on a prenatal HBV test means that the infant may be saddled for life with HBV unless the vaccine is given (they may still get it if the mother is infected unless they get the HBIg too). More accurate tests exist, but again, it is cheaper to give the vaccine to everybody than to use these tests.

[The HBsAg test is known to be less accurate than those for other diseases - the risk of getting HBV from a blood transfusion is 1:600,000 whereas HCV/HIV risks are about 1:2,000,000]

[Deborah]

It is only cheaper to give it to all newborns if you assume that there will be no deaths, no bad reactions, etc. One baby in a hospital for a week from a reaction would wipe out a good bit of savings.

There are a good many thrifty countries that only vaccinate in the case of an infected mother. I saw a list once. The universal Hep B at birth crew is a narrow slice of countries and I suspect that most of them have endemic Hep B, which is not true in the U.S.

[Turquesa]

Originally Posted by CHoney

nak

Just a small rant...I live in BC. Canada and they now have a 6-in-1 vax which includes Hep B for infants. We're the only place in Canada that has started to offer this. The reason is because they want Hep B to become a thing of the past. I would prefer immunization for this when your child is older and would be more at risk.

Just curious, do parents still have a choice to get the vaxes separated out? Or are they starting that alarming trend in the States of "phasing out" other options and forcing the 6-in-1 vax on everybody?

If it's all-or-nothing, and the "all" includes the forcing the grossly unnecessary Hep B vax into my daughter's veins, then I'm opting for nothing. (ETA: I'm a selective vaxer). It's the opposite of what public health officials wanted, but they should have thought of that before taking away parents' choices. :

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Turquesa

Just curious, do parents still have a choice to get the vaxes separated out? Or are they starting that alarming trend in the States of "phasing out" other options and forcing the 6-in-1 vax on everybody?

If it's all-or-nothing, and the "all" includes the forcing the grossly unnecessary Hep B vax into my daughter's veins, then I'm opting for nothing. (ETA: I'm a selective vaxer). It's the opposite of what public health officials wanted, but they should have thought of that before taking away parents' choices. :

It's coming down the pike....its only a matter of time. What combo cocktail is offered is what will be most profitable for the company.

[CHoney]

Originally Posted by Turquesa

Just curious, do parents still have a choice to get the vaxes separated out? Or are they starting that alarming trend in the States of "phasing out" other options and forcing the 6-in-1 vax on everybody?

I just phoned the Health Unit today and they said they will always have the Pediacel available because they use it for the 18 month booster. So that is good news for those parents who wish to selectively vax like me.

I haven't heard of having a choice to separate vaxes in Canada. I know my doula was trying to acquire a single vax from the States (tetanus I think) for her DD, but she wasn't able to.

[Ganesh78]

Great topic. I am a RN in Canada and am still shocked that newborns are being immunized with Hep B. When I refused with my firstborn (and my second), my dr rambled on about the high risk especially here in BC. His explanation on why it's so important (this is classic!) is because of the high incidence of Asians living in BC. According to him, Hep B is rampant in Asians so the chances of transmission are much more severe here in BC amongst children on the school grounds etc. He's got some really scary stories for me each time the topic of vaccinations come up......I just politely decline but it's getting a bit exhausting!