Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B (or "Hep-B")
The Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices (A.C.I.P.) recommends Hep B vaccination at: Birth,
2 months and 6 months, or 1-2 months, 4 months and 12 months. MMWR
Jan 11, 1991, Vol. 40, No. RR-1, pp 1-7.
Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by a virus, and usually is accompanied
by a fever. A spokesman for the vaccine manufacturer says, "Immunity probably
last about 5 years, although that is not certain." The Journal of American
Medical Association; Medical News on 6-1-84
Dr. S. Handler and colleagues, including members of the C.D.C.'s Multi-center
HBV Vaccine Study Group, stated, "Findings suggest that antibody levels
to HBV vaccine decline substantially within three years of vaccination." The
Journal of American Medical Association Medical News on 6-1-84
There is no evidence of the vaccines effectiveness after 10 years. Ganiats
TG, Bowersox MT, Ralph LP Universal
neonatal hepatitis B immunization--are we jumping on the bandwagon too early? J
Fam Pract 1993 (Feb); 36 (2): 147-149
Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives
Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources,
By Burton A. Waisbren, Sr., M.D., F.A.C.P., F.I.D.S.A. May 18, 1999
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/waisbren.html
Currently, there is no screening or selectivity, for mothers being
a carrier before
the vaccine is given to the infant. In Europe, North America and Australia
carriers represent .1% or less of the population. V Scheibner, Ph.D. Immunzations: 100
Years of Orthodox Research Shows that Vaccines Represent A Medical Assault
on the Immune System. New Atlantean Pr. December 1993/ ISBN:064615124X.
These are the reasons given to vaccinate children for Hepatitis B, as
stated by Dr. George Peter, Chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics
(A.A.P.) at the National Pediatric Infectious Disease Seminar on June 12, 1992,
in Washington, D.C.:
1. Children are accessible.
2. Cost of vaccinating infants is cheaper than adults because they require
a smaller dose.
3. Hep B remains a public health problem, which sometimes occurs outside of
high-risk groups.
4. High Risk groups have not accepted the vaccination, or have been difficult
to reach.
N.V.I.C. Newsletter, August 1992
The High Risk Groups: IV drug users, prostitutes, male homosexuals,
hemodialysis patients, institutionalized children and adults. Some health
workers, some military. Not infants. Not children.
Despite immunization programs targeting high risk groups the incidence of
Hep B has risen 37% over the last decade.
Freed GL, Bordley WC, Clark SJ, Konrad TR Reactions
of pediatricians to a new Centers for Disease Control recommendation for universal
immunization of infants with hepatitis B vaccine Pediatrics 1993
(Apr); 91 (4): 699-702
The campaign to vaccinate all newborns was "justified" because
selective vaccination of well-defined high-risk groups has failed to reduce
the incidence of the disease.
Caulfield M Hepatitis
B. A disease needing a vaccine or a vaccine needing a disease Clin
Pediatr (Phila) 1993 (Jul); 32 (7): 443-444
Kim-Farley RJ, Merson MH, Tulloch JL Childhood
immunizations N Engl J Med 1993 (May 13); 328 (19): 1420-1; author
reply 1421-2
In health care workers, studies suggest that with continuous, low intensity
exposure to Hep-B, workers become naturally immunized.
Dienstag JL; Ryan DM Occupational
exposure to hepatitis B virus in hospital personnel: infection or immunization? Am
J Epidemiol 1982 (Jan); 115 (1): 26-39
It is estimated that fewer than 25% of health care workers, who are at risk
of infection, get immunized.
Margolis HS, Presson AC Host
factors related to poor immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in adults. Another
reason to immunize early JAMA 1993 (Dec 22); 270 (24): 2971-2972
All 778 pediatricians in North Carolina were surveyed by mail 2 to 3 months
after publication of the C.D.C.'s recommendations. The response rate was 78%.
Although 82% of pediatricians who administer immunizations were aware of the
new recommendation, only 32% believed it was warranted in their practices.
Freed GL, Bordley WC, Clark SJ, Konrad TR Reactions
of pediatricians to a new Centers for Disease Control recommendation for universal
immunization of infants with hepatitis B vaccine Pediatrics 1993
(Apr); 91 (4): 699-702
Overall, 48% of family physicians that administered immunizations to children
were aware of the new hepatitis B vaccine recommendation. However, only 17%
agreed that it was warranteed for all newborns in their practice. Additionally,
42% expected nurses to resist giving three injections at one visit.
Freed GL, Bordley WC, Clark SJ, Konrad TR Family
physician acceptance of universal hepatitis B immunization of infants J
Fam Pract 1993 (Feb); 36 (2): 153-157
The United States and Canada are two countries sharing the lowest incidence
of hepatitis B disease in the world. Almost all hepatitis B deaths in the United
States are confined to high-risk groups.
October 12, 1994, "Ottowa Press Release" The Nightingale Research
Foundation, 602 State St., Box 310, Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Ganiats TG, Bowersox, MT, Ralph LP Universal
neonatal hepatitis B immunization--are we jumping on the bandwagon too early? J
Fam Pract 1993 (Feb); 36 (2): 147-149
Hepatitis B occurs primarily in young adults.
MMWR 1990; 39(RR-2): 1-26
Hep-B vaccination is produced in one of the following ways, by:
1. Blood plasma derivatives
2. Hepatic-cellular carcinoma's. (Cancer Tumors)
3. From surface antigens from constituent polypeptides.
***The surface antigen type is some what safer, but still not totally safe.***
According to the Australian Adverse Drug Reaction (ADRAC) Bulletin 8/90
said the recombinant vaccine causes serious side effects. Hep B affects the
newborn liver, which may become dysfunctional for 14 days or more. There is
borderline, significant association between the Hep-B vaccination and Guillain-Barre'
syndrome.
MMWR 1990; 39(RR-2): 1-26.
Xu ZY, Margolis HS Determinants of hepatitis b vaccine efficacy and
implications for vaccine strategies. Monogr Virol 1991 (in press).
However, the C.D.C.'s A.C.I.P. feels even if Gullian-Barre' is a side effect
of the immunization it is more that compensated for by prevention of the disease.
MMWR 1990; 39(RR-2): 1-26.
Hepatitis B immunity in children vaccinated with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine beginning at birth
Abstract
Background
The duration of protection after hepatitis B vaccination of infants is unknown. We determined antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and response to a booster dose 15 years after vaccination among Alaskan children born to hepatitis B surface antigen-negative mothers. These children had protective anti-HBs concentrations when tested after receiving a three-dose series of 2.5 µg recombinant hepatitis B vaccine starting at birth.
Methods
Participants received 5 µg of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Sera were collected at baseline, 10-14 days and 1 month after vaccination, and tested for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and anti-HBs. An anamnestic response was defined as an anti-HBs increase within 15 days, from either undetectable to =10 mIU/mL, or, if the baseline concentration was detectable, a 4-fold increase.
Results
None of 37 participants (mean age 14.6 years) were anti-HBc positive. An anamnestic response (GMC = 254 mIU/mL, range 16-2767 mIU/mL) was observed in 18 (51%) of 35 participants who had sera collected within 15 days after the booster.
Conclusions
In this small study, half of children who had received hepatitis B vaccine starting at birth did not have evidence of immune memory as measured by development of anamnestic responses to booster vaccination. Additional studies are needed to assess whether this indicates susceptibility to infection and whether persons vaccinated starting at birth may benefit from a hepatitis B vaccine booster to maintain long-term protection.
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