For several years after the vaccine was developed, it was recommended for people at high risk such as IV drug abusers and individuals with multiple sexual partners. However, even with these recommendations, hepatitis continues to spread throughout the population. According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, about 300,000 children and adults in the United States become infected with the hepatitis B virus each year. Of those, more than 10,000 need hospitalization and about 250 will die. Some people will become chronic carriers and continue to spread the disease throughout their lifetimes.
Babies born to infected mothers also can contract the disease.
Many newborns now receive their first dose of the vaccine before they leave the hospital, their second dose at one or two months, and the third dose six months after the second. Seizures following any vaccine are extremely rare, but parents should discuss all possible side effects with their physician before permitting the vaccine. Now she is breaking out in bumps on her chest and upper back and running a low-grade fever. Please call your daughter's pediatrician and tell him or her about the rash and fever. Possible side effects of the MMR vaccine are a mild rash, slight swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck or diaper area, low-grade fever and sleepiness.