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June 3, 1997
"The new vaccine you are referring to is an immunization against Hepatitis B..."
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Vaccine for Hepatitis in One Month Old?
I've been told that my
children should get a new hepatitis vaccine. My baby is
only one month old. How to you feel about giving this
vaccine so early? Is there a risk of severe reactions?
The new vaccine you are
referring to is an immunization against Hepatitis B, a
very serious form of liver disease. It is transmitted by
a virus at any age -- even at the time of birth, or later
by contaminated needles or by sexual transmission. It's a
terrible disease, responsible for liver failure in some
cases, and it's one of the leading causes of liver cancer
later in life. The vaccine is now routinely given in
three separate shots -- at birth, one month later, and
then six months later. There have been no serious
reactions to the shot, and usually there's not even the
fever often seen with other infant shots. It is strongly
recommended by the National Institutes of Health and the
American Academy of Pediatrics. I would recommend that
you go ahead with this vaccine for your one month old
infant.
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