Final answer:
The Hepatitis B vaccine is the vaccination administered to a healthy neonate prior to hospital discharge after birth, providing protection against the serious liver disease Hepatitis B.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hepatitis B Vaccination for Neonates
In a healthy neonate, the vaccination that is typically administered prior to discharge from the hospital after birth is the Hepatitis B vaccine. Vaccination plays a crucial role in protecting infants from various infectious diseases, and the Hepatitis B shot is one of the first vaccines given at birth. It shields newborns from Hepatitis B, a potentially severe liver disease. Vaccinations have drastically reduced child mortality rates by preventing diseases such as whooping cough, measles, and polio. In the past, illnesses like these claimed many children’s lives, but thanks to vaccines, we now see these diseases far less frequently.
Aside from the Hepatitis B vaccine, other notable vaccinations given during infancy include the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine, Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DtaP) vaccine, and the Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. These vaccinations are essential in preventing serious conditions such as meningitis, pertussis, and measles, among others.
To prevent Haemophilus influenzae type B, a significant cause of meningitis in children under five years old, the Hib vaccine is given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with a booster at 12 to 15 months. The DTaP vaccine, which includes protection against diphtheria, is administered five times during childhood, with a booster every 10 years. While the primary vaccination given at birth is for Hepatitis B, it is only the first step in a comprehensive immunization schedule that continues throughout childhood.