Angel4JohnnyB--HEPATITIS VACCINE

[nurse12hr]

Hi--sorry I just got back from work so just saw this.

It seems as though there haven't been a lot of studies done with this.  The hep B vaccine CAN be given to women at high risk for contracting HepB, but only in the last trimester.  There is not enough information regarding early pregnancy and the hepB vaccine to judge its safety.

Bottom line--unless your doctor oks it, I wouldn't do it.  Your job cannot FORCE you to take it--I am a nurse, and they strongly encourage it; but no one can force you.  They make you sign a release saying that you won't sue or try to get workmans comp if you contract hepB on the job, but again, they cannot force you to take it.

You can always site religious preferences for not taking it--they can't even ask you what religion.  

good luck--hope you don't have to tell them just yet.  Let me know if your doc says something different--I don't know how current what I read was.

[Still_AndiJ]

Latest info I found is frpm the Hep B Foundation:

"According to the CDC, the hepatitis B vaccine can be given safely to pregnant women and it does not appear to have any adverse effect on the developing fetus."

Depending on where you work, like a nursing home for example you may want to consider another position during your pg if you aren't going to get the vaccine. I personally have always been more terrified on contracting that than anything else as it can live on dry surfaces for so long and unfortunately some housekeeping departments aren't always good at using Med II or the like as thoroughly as needed.

Something to think about, I guess. Definitely talk to your OB about it and if you have any further questions, you can actually contact the Centers for Disease Control for more information or the Food and Drug Administration may have some answers. I would be hard pressed to settle for an "I don't know" from your OB if you are in a high-risk group.  

Good luck!

Andrea

[nurse12hr]

Safely given to the pregnant woman, or safely given to a woman in her first trimester?

Lots of meds are ok in later pregnancy,  but what you will get is a big "unknown effect" if you throw the first trimester in the equation! And vice versa--Motrin is safe in the first few months of pregnancy, but not is not given after 24 weeks.  

I wouldn't take it unless there were some studies involving first trimester pregnancies without my doctors ok, personally.  

That's a hard one.  I think her doc will have to help her with this!  Your suggestion of contacting the CDC I suspect, will not yield her any info of value.  They certainly will not tell her it is ok, they'll just say to consult her doctor.

[Still_AndiJ]

my intention is to of course remind people that sometimes doctors can be falible and that it is impossible for everyone to know everything. The CDC is in fact the agency in charge of things like the vaccinations and keep records of any reactions or side effects from the vaccinations. If I ever had a patient or co-worker who had a reaction the vaccination, I was always directed to contact them. My suggestion to her was to call them to see if there have been any reports and to also check with the FDA for similar information. All too often doctors give vague information and it is advisable that we all take an active role in our healthcare decisions.

Like I said before, it is important to make an educated decision regarding the vaccine. If she does indeed work in a high-risk profession, she has a pretty heavy decision before her.

Just as doctors offer different opinions, so do nurses. None of the information I offered was incorrect, in fact I am trying to encourage her to look further into things rather than taking any of our words as gospel.

Andrea

[Angel4JohnnyB]

I couldn't get ahold of my dr. after hours without calling the emergency line and I didn't want to do that. I went in yesterday and talked to the nurse at my job.........she has to keep everything confidential anyway.......
I asked her if I had to take the shot and she said "of course not" we "OFFER" it and if want to decline that is fine....
I realize I'm in a dangerous position but I am VERY careful!!!
I'm a phlebotomist so drawing body fluids is WHAT I do. I'm with the American Red Cross now so it will be only 'blood' on mobile drives. I know this is no more safe than urine of anything else, maybe worse but like I said, I am very careful in what I do.
Anyway, the nurse did say that if I was pregnant that neither she nor her counterpart (the other nurse) would even consider sticking me for any reason!!!
I will ask my dr. at my next visit and see what he recommends but until then I will just be in training and 'health histories' no blood drawing for at least 3-4 weeks.......maybe longer.
Thanks so much for your response I figured it got lost and just made the decision not to take the shot on my own. I do have a book that says it's best not to take any vaccinations in the first trimester and only ones that are not 'live' in later pregnancy.
Hugs,
Vikki