Connecticut DPH Reaffirms Recommendation For Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Department of Public Health is reaffirming its recommendation that all newborns receive a dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, emphasizing decades of data showing steep declines in infection rates.

The agency restated its position as national discussions continue regarding potential adjustments to the childhood immunization schedule. State officials said infants should complete the full Hepatitis B vaccine series by 18 months.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to chronic illness, liver failure, cancer or death. Babies may contract the virus from their mothers during childbirth, including in cases where the mother is unaware she is infected. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants who contract Hepatitis B in their first year have a 90 percent chance of developing chronic infection, and about one-quarter of those who do will die from the disease.

State health officials said transmission can occur during childbirth through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Children may also be exposed at home by infected family members or in childcare settings through bites or scratches.

Worldwide, more than 250 million people live with Hepatitis B. Health officials said universal infant vaccination has dramatically reduced infection rates in countries that have adopted the practice. The vaccine is considered safe, with mild soreness at the injection site noted as the most common side effect.

“The Hepatitis B vaccine is a crucial safety net for newborns from an incurable, life-threatening disease,” Connecticut Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D., said in a statement. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and AAP have recommended the series of shots for 35 years, and over that time, infections have plummeted."

The first dose, given at birth, combined with completion of the full series, is 98 percent effective in preventing infection. The CDC’s introduction of routine childhood Hepatitis B vaccination in 1991 helped drive infection rates to sustained lows among children and contributed to declining rates among adults who were vaccinated as children.

Connecticut’s recommendation aligns with guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and reflects a consensus from the Northeast Public Health Collaborative. State officials said they hope the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices adopts similar guidance.