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What CDC is Doing in Global Hepatitis B Vaccination | Global Hepatitis B Vaccination - CDC

CDC works with partners and countries around the world to make progress towards eliminating hepatitis B. According to the World Health Organization, a country has eliminated hepatitis B when the new cases decrease by 90% deaths decrease by 65%, compared to these rates in 2015.

Increasing vaccination at birth

A mother holds her baby while a health care worker speaks to her.
A healthcare worker speaks to a mother in Angola about the vaccinations her newborn will receive. The hepatitis B vaccine is now provided for free to all newborns in Angola. ©UNICEF/U.S.CDC/UN0828232/Prinsloo

CDC helps countries prevent the primary source of chronic hepatitis B.‎

The primary source of chronic HBV infection is the spread from mother to infant at the time of birth. This can be prevented with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine given with 24 hours of birth (known as the "birth dose"), followed by two additional doses.

Supporting introduction of hepatitis B birth dose vaccination

Vaccine introduction happens when a country incorporates a new vaccine into its immunization schedules. CDC supports hepatitis B birth dose introduction into routine vaccination schedules by:

  • Contributing to guidelines on introducing hepatitis B birth doses into immunization schedules
  • Compiling evidence on the burden of hepatitis B infection among pregnant women and estimate the risk of mother-to-child transmission in African countries without a hepatitis B birth dose
  • Helping to assess the cost of introducing hepatitis B birth dose vaccines
  • Participating in assessments of hepatitis B birth dose vaccination in countries that have recently introduced to help them improve program performance

Improving coverage of hepatitis B vaccine birth dose

  • Implementing and evaluating interventions to improve timely hepatitis B vaccine access and demand at birth
  • Evaluating best practices for using hepatitis B birth dose vaccine in a controlled temperature chain
  • Evaluating and improving hepatitis B birth dose vaccine implementation in children born in health facilities and those born outside of health facilities

Supporting disease elimination

CDC helps countries determine whether they have eliminated hepatitis B.‎

CDC supports countries in tracking their progress toward control and elimination goals for hepatitis B.

  • Contributing to global and regional guidance on confirming hepatitis B elimination
  • Serving on expert panels to review countries' progress toward control and elimination goals
  • Conducting surveys to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and the impact of hepatitis B immunization

Promoting new laboratory tests and other innovations

CDC helps innovate ways to test for and prevent hepatitis B.

CDC is currently focused on:

  • Researching new and improved diagnostics for hepatitis B
  • Evaluating new methods for hepatitis B testing that can be combined with tests for other vaccine-preventable diseases
  • Looking for innovative ways to deliver hepatitis B vaccines

Resources and references

Further reading‎

Content Source:

Global Immunization

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