Help protect your newborn from hepatitis B

As part of Australia’s National Immunisation Program, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is reminding new parents about the importance and safety of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

Immunisation of babies at birth is a safe and effective way to prevent transmission of hepatitis B virus from mother to infant, as well as from household contacts to the infant in the first few months of life.

ATAGI recommends that infants receive four doses of hepatitis B vaccine:

• one dose of monovalent hepatitis B vaccine at birth, and
• a further three doses of a hepatitis-B containing vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
• low birthweight and pre-term newborns are recommended to receive a fifth dose at 12 months of age to ensure adequate protection.
• The above is irrespective of the mother’s hepatitis B status.

This provides an important safety net to protect newborns at birth and into childhood. Delaying this dose creates an unnecessary and avoidable risk of chronic hepatitis B infection.

The hepatitis B vaccine is free for babies within 7 days of being born, and children aged 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months.

Follow the link for more information about the hepatitis B immunisation and other vaccinations.