Hepatitis B vaccine protects children from infection

What the research found

Australian government guidance says receiving all the childhood doses is around 97% effective in protecting against hepatitis B. Babies are offered doses at birth, then at 2, 4 and 6 months. The guidance also says vaccination has significantly reduced the number of people becoming infected in Australia.

Hepatitis B is serious when caught in infancy or early childhood. Government guidance says most children infected at that age go on to have chronic infection. Around 20% of people infected in childhood develop liver failure or liver cancer over time.

A 2021 review says almost two million children under 5 acquire hepatitis B each year. Without preventive steps, 70% to 90% of babies born to mothers with a certain high-risk form of the infection catch it. The review names vaccination at birth, plus other measures, as a key strategy to prevent this.

What it doesn’t mean

• Protection is high but not perfect. The 97% figure applies to children who receive all the doses, so a small number may still not be fully protected.
• Getting every dose on time matters, especially the birth dose. This is most important for babies born to mothers with hepatitis B. Speak to your GP or child health nurse if your child missed a dose.
• Common side effects are mild and usually pass within a few days. These include soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, a mild fever and tiredness.