Hepatitis B remains a major public health concern, especially with the risk of mother-to-child transmission. To tackle this, the Ghana Health Service Service will introduce the Hepatitis B Birth Dose vaccine into the national routine immunization schedule in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Administering the vaccine within 24 hours of birth or within the first two weeks can prevent up to 90% of infections passed from mother to child. This is a key step in line with WHO recommendations and builds on Ghana’s long-standing commitment to immunization, following the introduction of the pentavalent vaccine in 2002.
Dr. Oliver Commey, Director for Infectious Diseases, emphasized the significance of this milestone on behalf of the Director-General, noting the resilience of our health systems in making this possible.
With the strength of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and the support of all partners, the Service is working to ensure every newborn is protected from day one.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
