Not so much the number of shots, IMHO, but what are you giving the shots for, and what is the risk of contracting the disease. Hepatitis B is an incurable disease that causes liver failure. However, it isn’t that contagious, as it is spread by sex,blood transfusion, and birth to an infected mother. In today’s world, the risk of a 12-year old acquiring it is well known. But to an infant, not that much, considering that it’s standard to test a pregnant woman multiple times for STDs, including Hepatitis viruses. The likelihood that someone will give you multiple false negatives over months’ time is minute, so they generally will know from those tests which expecting mothers actually have Hepatitis B, and which babies are at risk as a result. The important issue I have is risk a 12 year old like I was is a bigger risk for contracting Hepatitis B than a newborn.
That’s a good point, too. We’re really overloading babies and small children with this stuff, but, as you point out, all of these shots might not even be necessary. Now it’s up to 25 shots for 13 different diseases, all before 18 months of age. Who knows how many more shots will be added...