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Article: health; 'V' for vaccine; Doctors now recommend that newborns get a hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth - even if they don't need it - because vaccinating all means protecting the few who slip through the cracks.(SOURCE)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- February 8, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Josephine Marcotty; Staff Writer
Sophia Rash was born Jan. 17 at 6:27 a.m. at United Hospital in St. Paul. And at 10:30 a.m. she let out a howl as she got a shot that she probably didn't even need. If the nation's top federal health agencies and medical organizations have their way, every baby born in the United States will get a hepatitis B vaccine before leaving the hospital, whether they need it or not. The idea is to vaccinate every baby in order to catch the few who become infected by their mothers at birth with a chronic disease that can lead to liver failure and cancer later in life.
"It was a simple decision. It's a good idea for public ...