The hepatitis B birth-dose immunisation: Exploring parental refusal

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunisation is the first vaccine of infant life and one of the most commonly refused immunisations on the Australian Immunisation Schedule. AIMS: To quantify the frequency of declined HBV immunisation birth-doses, investigate reasons for refusal, and determine information sources used by parents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted on postnatal women who declined their newborn's HBV birth-dose immunisation during December 2016-July 2017 at an Australian tertiary referral hospital. Mothers who were non-English-speaking, unwell or medically unstable, or otherwise unavailable were excluded. RESULTS: One hundred ..