Necessary for whom? Here's the reality that you feel is being distorted: parents are usually pressured into agreeing without being told about possible side effects (listed below, from the vaccine insert).

First group of effects are rare and were found in the initial study in which the subjects were followed for a stunning FOUR DAYS. The second group of effects are from a post-marketing study and it's hard to know how common they are.

So any reasonable person - or medical personnel without conflict of interest (pretty much impossible to find in a hospital setting) - would weigh the below against the chances of an infant encountering Hep B from a blood transfusion.

Here's the list -

Infections and Infestations: Upper respiratory tract illnesses.

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Lymphadenopathy.

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Anorexia.

Psychiatric Disorders: Agitation, insomnia.

Nervous System Disorders: Somnolence, tingling.

Vascular Disorders: Flushing, hypotension.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Abdominal pain/cramps, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Erythema, petechiae, pruritus, rash, sweating, urticaria.

Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Arthralgia, back pain, myalgia, pain/stiffness

in arm, shoulder, or neck.

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Chills, influenza-like symptoms,

injection site ecchymosis, injection site pain, injection site pruritus, irritability, malaise,

weakness.

Post- marketing:

Infections and Infestations

Herpes zoster, meningitis.

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

Thrombocytopenia.

Immune System Disorders

Allergic reaction, anaphylactoid reaction, anaphylaxis. An apparent hypersensitivity syndrome

(serum sickness-like) of delayed onset has been reported days to weeks after vaccination,

including: arthralgia/arthritis (usually transient), fever, and dermatologic reactions such as

urticaria, erythema multiforme, ecchymoses, and erythema nodosum.

Nervous System Disorders

Encephalitis; encephalopathy; migraine; multiple sclerosis; neuritis; neuropathy including

hypoesthesia, paresthesia, Guillain-Barré syndrome and Bell’s palsy; optic neuritis; paralysis;

paresis; seizures; syncope; transverse myelitis

Eye Disorders

Conjunctivitis, keratitis, visual disturbances.

Ear and Labyrinth Disorders

Earache, tinnitus, vertigo.

Cardiac Disorders

Palpitations, tachycardia.

Vascular Disorders

Vasculitis.

Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders

Apnea, bronchospasm including asthma-like symptoms.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Dyspepsia.

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

Alopecia, angioedema, eczema, erythema multiforme including Stevens-Johnson syndrome,

erythema nodosum, lichen planus, purpura.

Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders

Arthritis, muscular weakness.