Universal Hepatitis B Immunization: The Dose of HBIg That Should Be Administered at Birth

Abstract

In the article entitled "Universal Hepatitis B Immunization" (Pediatrics 1992;89:795-800) it is confirmed that perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive carrier mothers to their infants may be efficaciously prevented by combined passive-active immunization, the efficacy of which has been previously well-documented.1,2 In that report the Committee on Infectious Diseases recommends, in particular, that infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers should receive the dose of 0.5 mL of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) at or shortly after birth.