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Hepatitis B
Find most of the information you need in these resources
Always refer to your local signed PGD's in practice, and remember the Green Book takes priority over the SPmC - and sometimes WHO takes priority over the Green Book! They don't always say the same!
Other useful links and further reading:
Hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB combination vaccine: Information for healthcare practitioners
Hepatitis B antenatal screening and selective neonatal immunisation pathway
Hepatitis B: clinical and public health management
Hepatitis B dried blood spot (DBS) testing for children: Information and resources to support UKHSA's national DBS testing service to improve uptake of testing in primary care of infants born to mothers living with hepatitis B. And a useful leaflet to support parents.
These leaflets are aimed at parents of babies who are at risk from hepatitis B virus infection through perinatal transmission. The Protecting your baby against hepatitis B immunisation leaflet explains the course of vaccinations for babies born to women with hepatitis B to help protect babies from developing hepatitis B infection. The Guide to your care in pregnancy and after your baby is born screening leaflet is for use from 1 July 2025. It explains the hepatitis B screening and care offered to women with hepatitis B in pregnancy.
Recent Updates & News
13th June 2025: An update to the Hepatitis B: antenatal screening and selective neonatal immunisation pathway which is important guidance on the delivery of antenatal screening and selective neonatal immunisation services for pregnant women living with hepatitis B and their babies. The changes, as with everything lately, relate to the changes to the childhood immunisation schedule for children who turn 12 months old on or after 1 July 2025.
11th June 2025: Updates to Hepatitis B dried blood spot (DBS) testing for children page in line with the upcoming changes.
5th June 2025: Green Book chapter updated. PGD template updates also arrived for Hexavalent vaccine DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB, and Hep B.
2nd June 2025: This guidance got an update: "Hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB combination vaccine: information for healthcare practitioners". As did this page (Hexavalent combination vaccine: programme guidance) in general. Another related document to get an update today is the Hepatitis B vaccine for at-risk infants aide memoire.
29th May 2025: More resources - an updated slideset for the hexavalent programme. Will help with understanding the upcoming changes in the programme from July 2025.
30th April: A BIG update came along today - the 'changes to the routine childhood schedule letter'. Big read with lots of changes to absorb. I won't repeat it all here but do have a good read.... some of this relates to hepatitis B on the childhood prog. (see UKHSA webinar link on news page in June and consider registering for more info). Expect Green Book updates, PGD changes and perhaps a small amount of chaos while we adapt to the changes. Keep calm and keep the kettle on....
9th April 2025: You know me, I love a cheat sheet!! Hepatitis B vaccine for at-risk infants aide memoire updated. Look no further for a summary of hepatitis B vaccine schedule, advice and guidance for pregnant women and new mothers.
11th March 2025: Green book chapter update for hepatitis B: Updates are that PreHevbri is no longer available in the UK, and to provide a clear description of the types of significant exposure.
NOV 2024 Prehevbri has sadly been discontinued as unable to find a manufacturer. I'm very sad about this - it was a great vaccine :-(
MAY 2024 Professional guidance doc merged for the selective AND routine hexavalent programme
APRIL 2024 Green book chapter update - New booster recommendations. New vaccines, Hello and welcome Prehevbri and Heplisav!!
Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation
Did you know....
According to the Hepatitis B Foundation:
Two billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus around the world (one out of three people)
Approximately 1.5 million people become newly infected each year.
Almost 300 million people are chronically infected.
Approximately 10% of infected individuals are diagnosed.
An estimated 820,000 people die each year from hepatitis B and related complications such as liver cancer.
Approximately two people die every minute from hepatitis B.
