Kapi`olani Gets Babies
Off to a Healthy Start
All newborns receive hepatitis B vaccine
before going home
 Following the recommendations of
the American Academy of Pediatrics,
Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women
& Children now vaccinates all newborns
for hepatits B before they go home, with
their parents’ permission.
Hepatitis B is a serious infection.
Long-term illness can lead to liver
damage, liver cancer and even death.
The hepatitis B vaccine, administered in
three separate doses, can protect against
this infection.
The Kapi`olani vaccination program,
which began last fall, administers the
first of three doses of the vaccine prior to
baby’s discharge from
the hospital. Infants
receive the next two
shots in their doctor’s
offices. Kapi`olani is
leading the way in
the state to offer universal
vaccination
for newborns.
“Due to discussion
in the media and various
Internet sites,
some parents have been led to believe
that vaccines are harmful,” says Douglas
Kwock, M.D., pediatric infectious disease
specialist. “Parents need to know
that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh
the risks. Getting the hepatitis B
vaccine is much safer than getting the
hepatitis B infection.”
Douglas Kwock, M.D.
 | He adds that Kapi`olani has implemented
special screening procedures to
ensure that newborns with mothers
who test positive for hepatitis B follow
the recommended protocols that protect
infants from acquiring the infection
from their mothers. These expectant
moms are identified prior to delivery,
so newborns can receive the vaccine
within the 12-hour window after birth.
“As with any medication, there are
always potential side effects,” says
Dr. Kwock. “Minor reactions include
soreness at the site of injection and mild
to moderate fever. Serious allergic reactions
are very rare.”
If you have questions, please talk with
your obstetrician or pediatrician during
your pregnancy.
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