Babies born to mothers who are positive for Hepatitis B should receive doses of monovalent Hepatitis B vaccine at birth, 4 weeks and 12 months to reduce the chance of developing Hepatitis B infection. While the new born dose is given by maternity providers, the dose at 4 weeks and 12 months is usually delivered by GP practices, alongside a dried blood spot (DBS) test at 12 months.
Recognising the workload implications of this for practices, NHSEL have commissioned a separate home visiting service to provide the vaccine to identified babies at 4 weeks and 12 months as well as the dried blood spot (DBS) test at 12 months. Practices now have the option of opting in to this domiciliary service for their patients, meaning they would no longer be responsible (or paid the IoS fee) for delivering this. However, they would still maintain responsibility and be paid for routine childhood immunisations. Please see further information here. This flow chart explains the processes for domiciliary providers and practices. For further information please email Jane Ritchie.
The BMA’s ‘Focus on’ document covering other types of hepatitis B vaccinations was updated in June 2024.