Article: Hepatitis B (HepB) birth dose and Perinatal HepB Prevention Program

In the U.S. in 2022, an estimated 1.89 million people are living with hepatitis B, which increases the risk of premature death from cirrhosis and liver cancer by as much as 25%. In 1991, the U.S. adopted a strategy for universal HepB vaccination of infants, giving rise to the “birth dose” of HepB vaccine. This article from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) details the rationale for a HepB birth dose and provides information about CDPHE’s Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention program.