Administer the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours after birth

2. Administer the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours after birth

Cost: No cost at all. The hepatitis B vaccine is part of the routine immunization program, so it is provided free of charge. It is given to newborns in the hospital on the day of birth; no extra trips are needed.

In plain terms: The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine must be given to a newborn within 24 hours after birth. Roughly 95% of infants and toddlers who contract hepatitis B go on to develop chronic hepatitis. In contrast, the vast majority of adults who get infected recover on their own without medical intervention. Hence, the earlier this vaccine is administered, the greater its protective benefit. If the mother tests positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, the infant also needs to receive an injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin at the same time.

Benefit: The World Health Organization states: “All infants should receive the hepatitis B vaccine as early as possible after birth, ideally within 24 hours.” The rationale behind this recommendation is that “about 95% of infections in infants and toddlers progress to chronic hepatitis.” Most adults who contract the virus also recover spontaneously, meaning they do not require any treatment to get better.

Evidence grade: A

Sources: World Health Organization. Hepatitis B fact sheet. <https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b>

Notes: If the mother tests positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, the newborn must receive an injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin right after birth. This fact must be clarified during prenatal checkups; do not wait until after delivery to ask about it. Details on screening requirements for mothers can be found in Section 1.