Immunization Newsbriefs

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March 28, 2001

“Hearing Set on Parental Waiver of Hepatitis B Shot” Boston Herald (www.bostonherald.com) (03/27/01) P. 12;

Lasalandra, Michael

In Massachusetts, a bill that would enable parents to stop their children from receiving the hepatitis B vaccine was to be the subject of a hearing on Tuesday.  According to Debbie Bermudes of Massachusetts Citizens for Vaccination Choice, hepatitis B “is not something that you can get through casual contact.”  Bermudes said that the people most at risk of contracting the disease are health care workers, people who are sexually promiscuous, and intravenous drug users.  She added that children cannot catch hepatitis B simply by playing with another child, and that therefore there is no reason why hepatitis B vaccinations should be required for school or day care entry.  However, Dr. Susan Lett of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health noted that the requirement for children to receive hepatitis B vaccinations reflects a national goal to eventually eliminate perinatal hepatitis B transmission.  Lett added that for the vaccine to do the most good, it should be given to babies within 12 hours of birth.

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