Protecting mums and their babies from
hepatitis B
Infants born to hepatitis B infected mothers are at risk of perinatal transmission . The national policy recommends immunisation of infants ( with vaccine +/ - hepatitis B immunoglobulin ) at birth , four weeks and at 12 months of age . In addition , hexavalent vaccine ( Infanrix hexa ) is given at 8 , 12 and 16 weeks of age with a blood test carried out at 12 months to exclude infection .
Public Health England are delighted to launch our one-stop-shop for hepatitis B antenatal screening and infant immunisation programmes – www . gov . uk / government / publications / hepatitis-b-antenatal-screeningand-selective-neonatal-immunisation-pathway – which has brought together links to new pathway guidance , leaflets , template letters and a checklist for maternity teams , and an aide memoire for primary care . This updated collection page will help health professionals to deliver the :
• NHS IDPS care pathway for hepatitis B
• PHE immunisation pathway for infants at risk of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B
The new hepatitis B resources are for use from 1 April 2021 , but we ’ ve published them now so you can familiarise yourself and review your local pathways ready to start using them .
Guidance on antenatal screening and neonatal immunisation pathway We ’ ve published updated and improved guidance on the hepatitis B antenatal screening and selective neonatal immunisation pathway – www . gov . uk / government / publications / hepatitis-b-antenatal-screening-and-selectiveneonatal-immunisation-pathway . This comprehensive resource gives health professionals a step-by-step guide to the care pathways , from screening in pregnancy to completion of the baby ’ s vaccination schedule at 12 months . It includes information on :
• the clinical picture and transmission of hepatitis B
• the global elimination strategy
• surveillance of the virus
• screening and care in pregnancy for women living with hepatitis B and their babies
• women who decline testing
• the immunisation schedule
• missed vaccinations
Screening test result and protecting your baby leaflets These new leaflets – www . healthpublications . gov . uk / ViewArticle . html ? sp = Shepatitisbcareforyourbabyleaflet – help midwives explain the screening result and the care pathway to parents . They should be given to parents as a guide to help them understand about hepatitis B , their care in pregnancy and their baby ’ s immunisation schedule .
Maternal and neonatal checklist for midwives The new hepatitis B maternal and neonatal checklist – included in the pathway guidance – will support midwives in delivering the hepatitis B care pathway . Trusts can download it and add their own logos and details .
Notification letter templates The 2 new hepatitis B notification letter templates are for maternity trusts to use to inform GPs , health visitors and child health information system ( CHIS ) records . Like the checklist , these templates can be adapted by trusts who wish to add their own logos and details .
Aide memoire for primary care The aide memoire supports primary care teams in ensuring infants receive the hepatitis B vaccine doses on time and have a blood test at 12 months old to check they are not infected . This should be done by a heel prick Dried Blood Test ( DBS ) test – www . gov . uk / guidance / hepatitisb-dried-blood-spotdbs-testing-forinfants .
To order the free resources to implement the pathway visit our Health Publications website and register your practice
www . healthpublications . gov . uk / Home . html
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