Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026
A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target
Published on: May 10, 2022
Hepatitis B Birth Dose: First Shot at Timely Early Childhood Vaccination
Natalia V Oster1, Emily C Williams2, Joseph M Unger3
1Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Insights
Infants receiving the hepatitis B vaccine at birth were nearly three times more likely to complete all recommended childhood immunizations on schedule. This highlights the importance of timely hepatitis B vaccination for overall vaccine adherence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Current U.S. guidelines recommend a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns weighing ≥2,000 grams.
- However, approximately 25% of eligible newborns do not receive this initial dose as scheduled.
- The association between timely hepatitis B vaccination and the completion of other early childhood vaccines is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between receiving the hepatitis B vaccine during birth hospitalization and the timely completion of the recommended childhood vaccine series.
- To determine if early hepatitis B vaccination influences adherence to the full immunization schedule by 19 months of age.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study included 9,080 newborns (birth weight ≥2,000 grams) from an urban academic medical center in Washington State (2008-2013).
- Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between birth dose hepatitis B vaccination and completing the seven-vaccine series by 19 months.
- Analyses adjusted for sociodemographic, clinical, and birth hospitalization factors. Data were analyzed in 2017-2018.
Main Results:
- 75.5% of infants received the hepatitis B vaccine during their birth hospitalization; 53.6% completed the seven-vaccine series by 19 months.
- Infants who received the hepatitis B vaccine at birth were significantly more likely to complete the seven-vaccine series by 19 months (60.0%) compared to those unvaccinated at discharge (33.8%; p<0.001).
- The adjusted odds of completing the seven-vaccine series were almost three times higher for infants who received the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine (AOR=2.92, 95% CI=2.61-3.26).
Conclusions:
- Receipt of the hepatitis B vaccine during birth hospitalization is independently associated with a higher likelihood of completing all recommended childhood vaccines by 19 months.
- These findings underscore the critical role of the birth dose hepatitis B vaccine in establishing a pattern of timely vaccination.
- Further research is needed to explore factors influencing parental decisions regarding the birth dose and its impact on subsequent vaccination adherence.
Introduction:
Current U.S. recommendations state that newborns weighing ≥2,000 grams should receive a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine, yet approximately one quarter do not receive this first dose as scheduled. The relationship between timely receipt of the first hepatitis B vaccine and other early childhood vaccines remains unclear.
Methods:
Washington State newborns (birth weight ≥2,000 grams) who received birth hospitalization care at an urban academic medical center between 2008 and 2013 were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess whether hepatitis B vaccine receipt during the birth hospitalization was associated with completing the seven-vaccine series by 19 months, adjusting for select sociodemographic, clinical, and birth hospitalization characteristics. Analyses were conducted in 2017-2018.
Results:
Of the 9,080 study participants, 75.5% received hepatitis B vaccine during the birth hospitalization, and 53.6% completed the seven-vaccine series by 19 months. Overall, 60.0% of infants vaccinated against hepatitis B during the birth hospitalization completed the seven-vaccine series by 19 months compared with 33.8% of those who were unvaccinated at discharge (p<0.001). The odds of series completion were nearly 3 times higher among infants who received versus did not receive hepatitis B vaccine during the birth hospitalization (AOR=2.92, 95% CI=2.61, 3.26).
Conclusions:
Infants who received hepatitis B vaccine during their birth hospitalization had higher odds of receiving all recommended vaccines by 19 months independent of other factors associated with vaccine receipt. Understanding the factors that influence this first parental vaccine decision and how hepatitis B vaccine delay or declination may affect subsequent vaccination requires further research.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:51Vaccinations
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution