Don't Leave the Hospital Without It

A MINUTE OF HEALTH WITH CDC
Don’t Leave the Hospital Without It
Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage Among Children Born January 2003 – June 2005 — United States
July 31, 2008

This program is presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC — safer, healthier
people.

Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease that can result in lifelong illness or premature death.
Infants can get hepatitis B from their infected mothers or other close contacts. Up to 90
percent of infants who get hepatitis B remain infected, and one in four will die
prematurely from liver disease or liver cancer. In 2005, the CDC recommended that all
newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine before they leave the hospital to prevent
infection. However, a recent CDC survey found that only half of all newborns are being
vaccinated before discharge. Before you take your baby home from the hospital, make
sure they’re vaccinated against hepatitis B.

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For the most accurate health information, visit www.cdc.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO, 24/7.