Do babies get a HEP A shot?

Question

My ped told me so and my baby is scheduled for one.

HEP A, not B! My daugher got the B, too, at birth and then later on.

Answer 1

It isn't on the US or Canadian standard vaccination schedule. I can't comment on each individual state and country though.

http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile33.stm#E46E7

Who should be vaccinated?

The hepatitis A is provided free to people who are at high risk of infection or serious illness and who are not already immune to hepatitis A, including:

* Persons who are receiving treatment for haemophilia A or B;
* People who use illegal IV drugs;
* People who have hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or other chronic liver disease;
* People who have HIV;
* People who have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant;
* Individuals in provincial correctional facilities;
* Men who have sex with men; and,
* Individuals in contact with a person with hepatitis A in one of the following ways - household, close non-household, daycare, drug-sharing, sexual contact, and food handlers and customers of an establishment where the hepatitis A case is a food handler (as determined by public health staff).

The vaccine is also recommended for those who are likely to come in contact with the hepatitis A virus, although the vaccine is not provided free in these cases. These include:

* Those who will be living, working or travelling in developing countries, particularly in rural areas;
* Food handlers;
* Those with multiple sex partners;
* Residents and staff of institutions for the developmentally challenged where there is an ongoing problem with hepatitis A infection;
* Zoo keepers, veterinarians and researchers who handle non-human primates; and
* Staff involved in research on hepatitis A virus or the production of hepatitis A vaccine


http://www.vaccineinformation.org/hepa/qandavax.asp
Who should get this vaccine?
People at increased risk for exposure to HAV infection or those who are more likely to get seriously ill if infected with HAV should be vaccinated. According to CDC recommendations, these individuals include

* All children at age 1 year (12-23 months)
* People age 12 months or older who are traveling to or working in any area of the world except the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia
* Men who have sex with men
* Illegal drug users, both oral and injecting
* People who have blood clotting disorders
* People who work with HAV-infected primates or with HAV in a research laboratory setting. No other groups have been shown to be at increased risk for HAV infection because of occupational exposure.
* People with chronic liver disease are not at increased risk of getting infected, but are at risk for developing serious complications if they get infected.
* Any person who wishes to be immune to hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccine is NOT routinely recommended for healthcare workers, sewage workers, or daycare providers. Children who are not vaccinated by age two years should be vaccinated as soon as feasible.

Answer 2

If your ped told you so, than why are you on here asking? Your ped's better than us to ask!
And why in the world would you want to inject your child with some disease plus all those other toxins in the vax to prevent Hep A? Which is curable and not deadly and could get lifelong immunity if they would happen to get it? It's not like the baby is running a restaurant or around many people with pooped up, pissed on hands. (That's precisely why I make everyone use hand sanitizer before touching my son!) I'm against vaxing so it's just my opinion.

Answer 3

yeah, it's brand new and ridiculous. Unless your child is going to be spending alot of time in restaurants where the employees don't wash their hands ever (poop covered hands) I personally don't see any reason to give a small tiny little baby hep A.
but I am generally anti-vaccination for babies anyway, so you may want to ignore me anyway.

Answer 4

yes, they all get it. Its usually part of the 5 in one they get at their first three vaccinations.

Most babies get it at birth.