Mercy Hospital Aurora has been recognized by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) for achieving one of the highest reported rates in Missouri for protecting newborns from hepatitis B virus infection.
The hospital was among only seven in the state to be placed on the IAC’s Birth Dose Honor Roll, which recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that have attained high coverage levels for administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
“Every day, our OB department, RNs and OB technicians take great pride in providing the highest level of care,” said Becky Collins-Squibb, obstetrics director at Mercy Hospital Aurora. “We provide education and obtain consent from the parent for all vaccinations. Vaccination of all our newborns is definitely a best practice and we are highly committed to maintaining this practice and receiving this recognition.”
Mercy Hospital Aurora’s OB department immunized 91 percent of babies from September 2013 through September 2014. The hospital also took additional steps to prevent perinatal transmission of hepatitis B.
The national standard of care to prevent hepatitis B virus infection in babies is to administer hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns before they leave the hospital or birthing center. This standard is being adopted by centers of health care excellence nationwide as a safety net to protect newborns from a wide range of medical errors that lead to babies being unprotected from perinatal hepatitis B infection.
“Hospitals and birthing centers have a responsibility to protect babies from life-threatening hepatitis B infection,” said Deborah Wexler, MD, executive director and founder of IAC. “Mercy’s commitment to the best practice of hepatitis B vaccination at birth has shown them to be a leader in preventing the transmission of the hepatitis B virus.”
For more information, visit www.immunize.org/honor-roll/birthdose.