When I was pregnant with my son, I was deeply concerned about vaccines. Are the current vaccine schedules safe? What about the Hepatitis B Vaccine schedule? Do newborns really need a shot before they even leave the hospital? Questions filled me to the brim and they were quickly bubbling over. I sat down at my computer, did a bit of Internet research, and decided: For me, vaccines seemed like the right way to go — especially the hepatitis B vaccine.
Hepatitis B is a liver disease that spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. A shocking 12.5 million people will contract hepatitis B at some point in their lives, making them potential carriers. Those infected with hepatitis B can develop a chronic infection, which can lead to severe complications such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Nearly 5,000 people die each year from complications. The vaccine provides a lifelong immunity, so if your child receives the vaccination at birth, you will never have to worry about him or her contracting the disease.
The hepatitis B vaccine schedule breaks the vaccine up into three doses. The first round is usually given to newborns at the hospital, but your doctor can give it to your child any time in the first two months. The second dose is given one month after the first, usually between one to four months. The third is given six months after the first dose, or between six to 18 months. If your child wasn't vaccinated at birth, let your doctor know so he or she can adjust the schedule.
Your child can have minor reactions to the vaccine such as pain and redness at the injection site, headache, and fatigue. These minor side effects are nothing compared to the devastation hepatitis B can cause. Give your baby a little extra love and cuddling after the shot. You'll both need it. However, once the sting of the shot is over, your little one will be protected from the disease for his or her entire life.
It's one less thing to worry about as a parent.
Did your little one get the HepB vaccine at birth? Tell us below in the comments section!
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