New Guidelines for Hepatitis B Vaccines

Infants should receive their first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of being born, according to newly-released guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Parents could previously delay the vaccine until a newborn’s first checkup, but doctors now say sooner is better. Hepatitis B can be spread from mother to baby during birth, which can lead to liver damage, liver failure, and other serious illnesses.