What CDC is Doing in Global Hepatitis B Vaccination

Key points

CDC works with partners and countries around the world to make progress towards eliminating hepatitis B. According to the World Health Organization, a country has eliminated hepatitis B when the new cases decrease by 90% deaths decrease by 65%, compared to these rates in 2015.

Increasing vaccination at birth

A mother holds her baby while a health care worker speaks to her.
A healthcare worker speaks to a mother in Angola about the vaccinations her newborn will receive. The hepatitis B vaccine is now provided for free to all newborns in Angola. ©UNICEF/U.S.CDC/UN0828232/Prinsloo
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CDC helps countries prevent the primary source of chronic hepatitis B.‎

The primary source of chronic HBV infection is the spread from mother to infant at the time of birth. This can be prevented with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine given with 24 hours of birth (known as the "birth dose"), followed by two additional doses.

Supporting introduction of hepatitis B birth dose vaccination

Vaccine introduction happens when a country incorporates a new vaccine into its immunization schedules. CDC supports hepatitis B birth dose introduction into routine vaccination schedules by:

  • Contributing to guidelines on introducing hepatitis B birth doses into immunization schedules
  • Compiling evidence on the burden of hepatitis B infectionA among pregnant women and estimate the risk of mother-to-child transmission in African countries without a hepatitis B birth dose
  • Helping to assess the cost of introducing hepatitis B birth dose vaccines
  • Participating in assessments of hepatitis B birth dose vaccination in countries that have recently introduced to help them improve program performance

Improving coverage of hepatitis B vaccine birth dose

  • Implementing and evaluating interventions to improve timely hepatitis B vaccine access and demandB at birth
  • Evaluating best practices for using hepatitis B birth dose vaccine in a controlled temperature chainC
  • Evaluating and improving hepatitis B birth dose vaccine implementation in children born in health facilities and those born outside of health facilities
Keep Reading: Partnering to Increase Hepatitis B Birth Dose Vaccination in Africa

Supporting disease elimination

CDC helps countries determine whether they have eliminated hepatitis B.‎

CDC supports countries in tracking their progress toward control and elimination goals for hepatitis B.
  • Contributing to global and regional guidance on confirming hepatitis B elimination
  • Serving on expert panels to review countries' progress toward control and elimination goals
  • Conducting surveys to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and the impact of hepatitis B immunization
Keep Reading: Learn more about CDC's work to address viral hepatitis globally

Promoting new laboratory tests and other innovations

CDC helps innovate ways to test for and prevent hepatitis B.

CDC is currently focused on:

  • Researching new and improved diagnostics for hepatitis B
  • Evaluating new methods for hepatitis B testing that can be combined with tests for other vaccine-preventable diseases
  • Looking for innovative ways to deliver hepatitis B vaccines
See Also: Learn more about how CDC is helping countries detect viral hepatitis.

Resources and references

Further reading‎

Learn about the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating hepatitis B.
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Content Source:
Global Immunization
  1. "Burden of disease" refers to how much a disease costs an individual and society (in health, monetary, and other costs).
  2. "Demand" refers to how much a population wants a certain vaccination.
  3. "Controlled temperature chain" refers to a process for keeping vaccines above the recommended long-term storage temperature for a limited period of time. Source: World Health Organization