ATAGI statement on the importance and safety of Hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has released a statement reaffirming the importance and safety of administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

ATAGI emphasises that a birth dose is a safe and effective way to prevent transmission of hepatitis B, including transmission from a mother to her baby at birth and from household contacts during the first months of life. Babies infected at birth have around a 90% risk of developing chronic hepatitis B, a lifelong condition that can lead to liver failure and liver cancer later in life.

The statement reiterates that all newborns should receive a hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth, regardless of the mother’s hepatitis B status, as screening during pregnancy may be missed, delayed, or infection may occur after screening. The birth dose provides a critical safety net and delaying it creates an avoidable risk of chronic infection.

Since the introduction of universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination in Australia, there has been a five-fold reduction in newly acquired hepatitis B infections, demonstrating the effectiveness of this program.

ATAGI continues to recommend completion of the full hepatitis B vaccine course under the National Immunisation Program to ensure ongoing protection through childhood.

Read the full ATAGI statement here: ATAGI Statement on the Importance and Safety of Hepatitis B Vaccine at Birth