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Hepatitis B vaccination for babies
Hepatitis B vaccine protects babies long-term. The vaccine is free for babies.
About 90% of babies who become infected with hepatitis B at birth or soon after will develop hepatitis B for life.
All babies are offered the hepatitis B vaccine at birth to:
- help prevent the spread of the disease from an infected mother to her baby. Sometimes a mother may not know she has the disease; and
- prevent the spread of the disease to infants from infected people. For example, those who live in the same house or others who might be infected.
It’s recommended that all babies are vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth (or within 7 days of being born). Babies should also receive hepatitis B vaccine at 6 weeks, 4 months and 6 months of age.
- Organisation:
- NSW Health
- Topic:
- Immunisation, Hepatitis, Children's health
- Target audience:
- Parents or carers
- Service area:
- NSW
- Published:
- July 2024
- Last reviewed:
- September 2024