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While hepatitis B is a serious disease, it is also preventable with early protection. One of the most effective ways to protect infants from serious illness is through the hepatitis B vaccine given soon after birth. Here’s what you should know:
What is hepatitis B and what are the long-term impacts of it?
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. While some people recover, many who become infected—especially babies and young children—develop chronic infection and liver damage that can last a lifetime. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer and even liver failure.
How does someone get hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids, and the virus can live outside the body (for example, on surfaces) for up to a week or more. Infants can be exposed to hepatitis B through everyday contact, and babies are especially vulnerable because an infected mother, family member or caregiver can unknowingly pass the virus on:
- During pregnancy or birth (from an infected mother to her baby)
- Through a bite from an infected person
- By touching open cuts or sores of an infected person
- By sharing, even incidental, personal items like toothbrushes, razors, or towels with an infected person
Why should people get the hepatitis B vaccine?
Hepatitis B is extremely contagious—up to 100 times more transmissible than HIV. Vaccination offers the best protection before exposure. Since introducing the birth dose in the U.S., cases in kids and teens have dropped by 99%. That’s critical, especially since nearly half of those infected don’t know it and may unintentionally transmit the virus to their loved ones—putting babies and children at risk.
Why is it so important that a newborn gets vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth?
If a newborn contracts hepatitis B at birth or an infant is infected in their first year of life, the chances of developing a serious, lifelong condition are extremely high.
Before universal vaccination at birth in the U.S., up to 20,000 infants each year were infected. Today, that number is close to zero annual cases thanks to vaccination.
Why is the hepatitis B vaccine recommended for all newborns, not just those whose mothers test positive?
The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all newborns—not just those whose mothers test positive—because everyday contact, not just childbirth, can transmit the virus. Maternal testing also isn’t foolproof: some mothers aren’t tested and some become infected later in pregnancy. Vaccinating at birth ensures all babies are protected, even if maternal infection is missed or someone is infected in the baby’s household.
This universal vaccination approach ensures no baby is left vulnerable.
How was the recommendation to vaccinate against hepatitis B at birth developed?
The recommendation to vaccinate all newborns against hepatitis B at birth was developed after decades of research, real-world data and ongoing safety monitoring of FDA-approved vaccines. Experts found that infants are especially vulnerable to serious, chronic illness if infected early, and that vaccinating at birth is safe and highly effective.
Initially, the vaccine was only given to at-risk infants, but hepatitis B rates remained stubbornly high due to both maternal transmission and casual contact. This led to the shift toward a universal birth dose, which protects all babies regardless of maternal status and has resulted in a dramatic drop in hepatitis B infections. That strong evidence is why leading pediatric and infectious disease experts continue to recommend the birth dose for every newborn.
The bottom line: Ensuring babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth is a simple, proven way to give them a healthy start. It’s a small step today that provides protection for a lifetime.
Carolyn Ha
Carolyn Ha, Pharm.D., is a Deputy Vice President in the Policy and Research Department at PhRMA, where she provides clinical expertise to shape policy development and advocacy related to population health and chronic disease management, improvement of medication use and clinical and quality management strategies. As a clinician, she is passionate about patient care and translating research into actionable policies that will ensure patients get the most out of their medications and creating a sustainable health care delivery system that incentivizes innovation. Carolyn received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Rutgers University and is a registered pharmacist in Virginia. Prior to joining PhRMA, she spent time as a practitioner in a community pharmacy and advocated on behalf of independent pharmacy owners. When she’s not working to improve the lives of patients through better use of medicines, Carolyn can be found spoiling her nephew & niece, exploring new restaurants, traveling and cheering on the New York Giants.
Carolyn Ha
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