MMWR: Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage Among Children Born January 2003 – June 2005 – United States

This report summarizes results of a survey on newborn hepatitis B vaccination and provides national, state, and local data on vaccination coverage for infants who received the hepatitis B vaccine during the first days of life. To measure the vaccine coverage during the neonatal period, CDC analyzed data from the 2006 National Immunization Survey (NIS). Findings show that during January 2003 - June 2005, before implementation of the 2005 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) hepatitis B vaccine recommendation, the national newborn hepatitis B vaccination coverage estimate was 42.8 percent at age one day, and 50.1 percent at age three days, with substantial variation by states and local areas. To comply with ACIP recommendations and increase coverage, delivery hospitals are advised to provide hepatitis B vaccination of newborns as a standard of care.