Home » Vaccine Misinformation » Do Preemies Frequently Crash After They Get Their Hep B Shot?

Do Preemies Frequently Crash After They Get Their Hep B Shot?

Why do some folks think that preemies frequently crash after they get their Hep B shot?

Do you think that Michael Master, a chiropractor, has spent much time in the NICU?
Do you think that Michael Master, a chiropractor, has spent much time in the NICU?

Because it is a common anti-vaccine myth that they do…

Do Preemies Frequently Crash After They Get Their Hep B Shot?

We hear it over and over from the usual suspects.

Did a NICU nurse tell her about the crash carts???
Did a NICU nurse tell her about the crash carts???

And they have been posting about it for years.

Who are these NICU nurses that tell these stories?
Who are these NICU nurses that tell these stories?

It is always the same story too, that they have heard stories from NICU nurses that they get crash carts ready before giving preemies their vaccines.

Vaccines do not slow breathing down...
Vaccines do not slow breathing down…

Crash carts?

That we keep seeing these posts about NICU nurses, but never a post from a NICU nurse should tell you something...
That we keep seeing these posts about NICU nurses, but never a post from a NICU nurse should tell you something…

A crash cart or code cart is a self-contained, wheeled cart with trays and drawers that include all of the supplies you need in a medical emergency.

I have worked in a lot of NICUs and have never seen anyone get a crash cart ready when vaccinating a baby...
I have worked in a lot of NICUs and have never seen anyone get a crash cart ready when vaccinating a baby…

Of note, none of these posts are actually from neonatologists or NICU nurses.

They are all from folks who had supposedly read or heard about the posts from the NICU nurses, but in reality, they are likely familiar with them because it has become a common anti-vaccine talking point.

As I’m sure you have guessed, they aren’t true.

Premature babies do not frequently crash after getting their hepatitis B vaccine

For one thing, premature babies do not frequently crash after getting their hepatitis B vaccine.

“Vaccines are immunogenic, safe and well tolerated in preterm infants. Preterm infants should be vaccinated using the same schedules as those usually recommended for full-term infants, with the exception of the hepatitis B vaccine, where additional doses should be administered in infants receiving the first dose during the first days of life if they weighed less than 2000g because of a documented reduced immune response.”

Gagneur et al on Immunization of preterm infants.

The hepatitis B vaccine is safe, with few side effects.

Anyway, crash carts are always ready and nearby in the NICU!

These babies are in an Intensive Care Unit, so you are always ready and prepared for them to crash, doing everything you can to prevent that from happening.

More on Hepatitis B Vaccine Safety

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