Definition

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a serious disease that attacks the liver. It can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

Numerator

Number of live births who were given the Hepatitis B Vaccine before being discharged from the hospital.

Denominator

Total number of live births to NJ residents.

Why Is This Important?

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent HBV infection. All children should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and should have completed the vaccine series by 6 through 18 months of age.

Healthy People Objective: Achieve and maintain effective vaccination coverage levels for universally recommended vaccines among young children: A birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine (0 to 3 days between birth date and date of vaccination, reported by annual birth cohort)

U.S. Target: 85 percent

What Is Being Done?

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), Vaccine Preventable Disease Program (VPDP) partners with the three maternal child health consortia to encourage administration of the hepatitis B vaccination at birth ("birth dose"). The VPDP Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program provides technical assistance to the consortia and has created a manual filled with resources and templates to assist birthing hospitals in creating universal hepatitis B birth dose policies and procedures. This manual is available online at the following link: [https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/chapters/hepb_ch.pdf]. Since 2013, the NJDOH [https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/ Communicable Disease Service] staff (includes the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program and the Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program) participates in the [http://www.hepbunited.org/local-partners/new-jersey/ New Jersey Hepatitis B Coalition]. This community coalition is co-led by the Center for Asian Health, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, NJDOH, and the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health. The goal is to coordinate efforts in the prevention and control of hepatitis B through education, screening, and linkage to care programs. The VPDP is currently collaborating with the Hepatitis B Coalition and the statewide immunization coalition, the New Jersey Immunization Network, to create electronic learning modules for physicians and public health partners. These modules will be used to raise awareness about the importance of hepatitis B birth dose. Continuing medical education (CME) credits will be offered as an incentive. The case management of infants born to chronically infected mothers can last up to 24 months. This lengthy time period may make follow-up a challenge for local health department staff. In order to assist with this process, the VPDP created postcards for local health departments to use to remind parents about the need for babies to complete the hepatitis B vaccination series and post-vaccination serology. The VPDP received positive feedback from these materials and will continue to research other techniques for promoting hepatitis B vaccination. The Program is also exploring methods to educate family members of those diagnosed with hepatitis B in order to support a continuum of care.

Health Program Information

The following materials are available online at the NJDOH [http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/hepatitisb_perinatal.shtml perinatal hepatitis B] website: * Perinatal hepatitis B Frequently Asked Questions * Hepatitis B and Your Baby (a CDC material available in English and Spanish) * When a Pregnant Woman has Hepatitis B (a CDC material available in English, Spanish, and Chinese) * Start Protecting Your Baby at Birth with Hepatitis B Vaccine (currently being updated) * Protect All Babies at Birth with Hepatitis B Vaccine (This is a manual for birthing hospitals to be used as a resource for improving the hepatitis B birth dose administration.)

Data Notes

Missing and unknown responses are not included in percent calculations.

Data Source

Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health

Data Notes

Missing and unknown responses are not included in percent calculations.   Data for White, Black, and Asian do not include Hispanics. Hispanic includes all individuals who list their ethnicity as Hispanic regardless of race.

Data Source

Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health

References and Community Resources

NJDOH Hepatitis B Info: [https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/hepatitisb.shtml] CDC's Hepatitis B Vaccination Info: [https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hepb/index.html]