Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention
Managing hepatitis B during pregnancy, reducing birth related risks, and protecting infants
Overview
Alaska's Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program is designed to coordinate communication between parents, provers, laboratories, hospitals, birthing facilities, and local, state, and national health departments. The Alaska Immunization Program’s PHBPP helps facilitate this collaboration through case management.
Transmission
Alaska has a higher-than-average rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B (hep B) cases. If a patient with hep B is pregnant, it can be passed to their baby at birth. This is known as perinatal hepatitis B transmission.
There is no cure for hepatitis B but there are treatments to help your patients stay healthy and steps to stop transmission before and during delivery. 1 in 4 infants exposed to hep B without proper care are likely to die prematurely.
During pregnancy
You should test for Hep B during an early prenatal visit, even if testing has been done before or are vaccinated. The only way to test for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is through a blood test.
Not everyone with HBV needs treatment but it is important to follow up. Doctors should monitor to see if antiviral treatment is needed.
Alaska sites that experience shipping delays, should use this time to ensure they have infant care doses available near due date.
Infant care
Babies should receive Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B birth dose within 12 hours of birth. Immunoglobulin is not a vaccine; it is a special treatment to help protect babies immediately.
Hepatitis B positive Parents are welcome to reach out to the Alaska program with questions, concerns, and for information on providers that can offer follow-up immunizations.
Reporting
Providers should reach out to us for when working with pregnant HBV-infected patients and their infants. Additional clinical resources are available.
Post-Vaccination Serologic Testing should be completed 1-2 months after the final Hep B vaccine dose, but not before 9 months of age. Results must be submitted using the Perinatal Hepatitis B Case Report Form.