At Birth Vaccinations... abroad. help!

[michlbcm]

Hi All,

This is my first baby and I'm delivering her Shanghai China. I'm not sure what the standard At Birth Vaccinations are in the US but in China there are two.
Hep B and BCG Vaccination (for TB).

I have alot of mixed feelings about this. It seems like way too young to be giving these vaccinations but at the same time Heb B and TB are VERY common in china.

I would really appreciate any advice or even just general pointing to good resources on these vaccinations.

If I was having my baby in the states I would not get either one of these vaccinations. But since we have so many Chinese local friends and it's impossible to stay isolated from people with or exposed to both these diseases (subways and every where else are crowded) I'm wondering if it would be safer to do them.

Thoughts? advice? any one in China or over seas in similar situations?

[swissmom]

As far as Hep B is concerned you might know that this disease is transmitted by coming into direct contact with an infected person's body fluids. So people at high risk are IV drug users, prostitutes, sexually promiscuous persons and babies born to infected mothers. So normally, the risk for a newborn or small child to get Hep B is relatively small to zero. Evaluate the risk for your little one considering your circumstances in Shanghai. I don't know much about TB. You might want to post again in the "My Tribe" section to find moms in Shanghai. Good luck!!

[swissmom]

Another thought: can you find out why Hep B is so common in China? That might help you decide. Here in the US Hep B is one of the first vaccines given, in some hospitals even within the first 48 hours which completely lacks scientific evidence for necessity. It's a very reactive vaccine since it contains yeast.

[ema-adama]

Try to find out as much as you can about the TB vaccine, and TB the disease.

This might help as a starting point.

Do you know your hep B status? If not, can you get yourself tested? What other scenarios, besides birth, are you worried about with regard to your baby contracting hep B?

It does not matter how scary the disease is, vaccines are not risk free. Find out just how at risk your child will be for both diseases.

HTH.

[Minarai]

First, I don't know how you're accessing this site. Do you use Freegate or something?
Second, I don't know what the laws are in China. They may have strict anti-refusal laws, for all I know.