Hospital mix-up leaves babies with ineffective vaccine.

Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital is contacting 282 mothers after several babies were given an ineffective hepatitis B vaccine. It is reported a fridge that stored routine vaccines was discovered with low temperature readings.

Mothers who delivered at the hospital between November 29, 2016, and 22 January, 2017, will be contacted, but the hospital says for most no action will be needed apart from ensuring their infant gets their remaining vaccines on time.

Six infants have been called back and offered an additional vaccination.

Mothers are being advised that receiving a potentially less-effective vaccine is not harmful.

“However some babies may not have received important early protection against hepatitis B,” South Western Sydney Local Health District acting director of population health Dr Stephen Conaty said.

Hepatitis B infection in babies is rare in Australia, he added.

The Sydney hospital is also responsible for the gassing mix-up of two newborns. Last year a baby boy died and a newborn girl suffered suspected brain damage after they were mistakenly given nitrous oxide instead of oxygen at the hospital.

Labor wants an assurance from the new Health Minister Brad Hazzard that all procedures have been followed and guarantee the safety of the babies, reports Sky News.

It’s also demanding an independent investigation.

‘This is about ensuring the integrity of the health and hospital system which has lurched from crisis to crisis,’ opposition health spokesman Walt Secord said.

‘Parents have a right to know that the vaccines being provided to their children are effective and offering protection to their babies.’

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