Baptist Union County honored for protecting newborns from hepatitis B

Baptist Union County has been recognized by the Immunization Action Coalition and the Mississippi State Department of Health for the high number of hepatitis B vaccines it gives to newborns. The hospital has one of the highest reported rates of hepatitis B vaccine administration in the state.

“Our hospital is committed to providing the highest quality of care and helping facilitate healthy communities,” said Walter Grace, CEO and administrator of Baptist Union County. “Baptist Union County delivers 1,100 babies per year, so adhering to proper safety measures to protect newborns and families is a top priority.”

Baptist Union County is the newest entry into 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. The hospital immunized 100 percent of babies from January to December 2014 and took additional steps to prevent the transmission of hepatitis B during birth.

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. “Baptist Union County’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.”