Hepatitis B immunisation coverage of infants born to chronic carrier mothers in Victoria

Abstract

Infants born to HBsAg- (hepatitis B surface antigen) carrier mothers are highly likely to become chronic hepatitis B (HB) carriers themselves unless their status is recognised at birth and they are immunised with three doses of HB vaccine, the first within 48 hours of birth, concurrent with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG). This study was designed to determine how many infants born in Victoria to carrier mothers completed three doses of HB vaccine. We sent the names of all infants of HBsAg-carrier mothers notified in Victoria between 1.7.91 and 30.6.92 to the appropriate local government immunisation providers and requested information on how many doses of HB vaccine, DTP (diphtheria-tetan..