Babies given potentially ineffective hepatitis B vaccine at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital

INFANTS born at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital over the past two months could have received an ineffective dose of the hepatitis B shots, prompting health authorities to contact hundreds of mothers.

Infants at Bankstown Hospital could have been administered ineffective hepatitis B vaccines.

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INFANTS born at Bankstown Hospital over the past two months could have received an ineffective dose of the hepatitis B vaccines, prompting health authorities to contact hundreds of mothers.

A fridge used to store routine vaccines was found to be too warm, potentially rendering the climate sensitive shots ineffective.

Six infants have already been recalled to get replacement vaccinations and three mothers who received a post-natal dose of whooping cough vaccine have been offered a replacement dose.

It comes just months after two newborns at the scandal-plagued hospital were accidentally gassed with nitrous oxide, killing one and leaving the other brain damaged.

Hundreds of mothers have been called after the discovery. Picture: iStock

South West Sydney Local Health District population health director Dr Stephen Conaty said 282 women who delivered babies at the hospital between November 29 and January 22 will be contacted.

However he said no action would be needed for most women apart from their infants getting their remaining shots on time.

“We want to reassure all involved that receiving potentially less effective vaccine is not harmful, however some babies may not have received important early protection against hepatitis B,” he said.

Two babies were administered nitrous oxide at the hospital last year in a “catastrophic error”.

“Hepatitis B vaccine is given to all babies in Australia at birth to protect them from hepatitis B infection in early life. Hepatitis B infection in babies is rare in Australia.

“Vaccines are temperature sensitive biological substances that can become less effective if they get too warm or too cold.”

The ideal storage temperature for the vaccine, given to all newborns as part of a national vaccination program, should be between 2-8C.

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Women seeking more information can contact the South Western Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit on 1300 163 033.

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