What to Do If a 34-Day-Old Baby Has Elevated Jaundice and Can’t Receive Vaccines?

Question

A newborn is 34 days old and has an elevated jaundice index. Does this affect vaccine administration?

Answer

If the newborn’s jaundice is physiological, it usually does not affect vaccine administration. However, if it is pathological jaundice, treatment of the jaundice is required first, and the vaccine should be administered only after the index has dropped to a normal range. Pathological jaundice may require blue light therapy to reduce bilirubin levels in the blood.