Her other children were tested as a part of this program and the one child was discovered to be a carrier. In the other case, the mother had not been tested during the pregnancy. The cord blood of this infant was positive for HBsAg, but the report was received after the discharge of the infant and the report was filed without action. In both cases, the infants were not treated for perinatal exposure because the hospital was relying on cord blood testing to determine the need for hepatitis B prophylaxis. The hospital policy has since been changed and all mothers are screened on admission to labor and delivery.
Lawsuits are pending in both cases.
By contrast, according to Dr. S. Michael Marcy, president of the Los Angeles Pediatric Society, there have been no successful immunization-related lawsuits against physicians giving required vaccines and following standard practices since 1977. CDC has published the Standards for Pediatric Immunization Practices which is endorsed by the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. For additional immunization resources, see pages 5 and 7 of Needle Tips and page 12 of the Hepatitis B Coalition News. If so, please contact the Immunization Action Coalition editor.