In Australia, Hepatitis B vaccinations are routinely offered to babies of mothers who do not carry the virus. When it is given and what type is available, will depend on which state you live in. Hepatitis B is now part of the
National Australian Immunisation Schedule (since May 2000).
In most cases, babies are given their first Hepatitis B injection as a single vaccination (known as 'monovalent'- meaning not mixed with other vaccines) either in the hours soon after the baby's birth or just before the baby is discharged from hospital (within 7 days of birth). Babies born at home would require the homebirth caregiver to obtain the vaccination for administration, or the parents to take their baby to their local doctor in the first week after birth.
Subsequent injections of the Hepatitis B vaccine can be offered as a single (monovalent) injection, but are usually given as part of a 'multivalent' vaccine (a mix of the Hepatitis B vaccine with other vaccines routinely offered as part of the Australian Immunisation Schedule). These vaccines are designed to reduce the amount of injections that need to be administered to the baby, and are explained in more depth earlier in this section in
about hepatitis B vaccinations.
The revised Australian immunisation schedule recommends 4 Hepatitis B vaccinations all together. The first injection soon after the birth, then the subsequent 3 injections at:
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2, 4 and 6 months of age if mixed with the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). OR |
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2, 4 and 12 months of age if mixed with the Hib vaccine (for meninigitis). |
NOTE: The injections should only be given into the top, outer part of one of the baby's thighs. Only babies older than 12 months can have an injection into their upper arm, because by then the muscle in that area is more developed.