UnityPoint Health — Grinnell awarded for hepatitis B immunization

GRINNELL — UnityPoint Health-Grinnell Regional Medical Center was named to the hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll by the Immunization Action Coalition.

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GRINNELL — The award is given for achieving a coverage rate of 93% over a 12 month period, successfully administering hepatitis B vaccine to newborns before hospital discharge.

The birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine is critical to safeguarding infants from the hepatitis B virus infection which can lead to chronic liver disease, UnityPoint said in a press release this week.

The honor roll recognizes hospitals for establishing and implementing written policies, procedures and protocols to administer the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine to newborns prior to hospital discharge.