1. Results from IAC’s 2001 and 2002 Birth Dose Surveys
Presenter: Teresa A. Anderson, DDS, MPH
Date: January 29, 2003
Place: National Hepatitis Coordinator’s Conference

2. History of the “birth dose”
First universal recommendation: 11/22/91
Concern/controversy over thimerosal leading to AAP/PHS statement: 7/8/99
Thimerosal-free hepatitis B vaccine available: 9/10/99
Subsequent confusion and decreased use of hepatitis B vaccine at birth for HBsAg- and unscreened and HBsAg+ mothers

3. Big question of 2001 survey: What’s the status of the birth dose 2 years after thimerosal-free hepatitis B vaccine became available?

4. Birth Dose Survey Methodology
Questionnaire sent to all state, metropolitan and territorial immunization programs, October 2001
Follow-up with and phone reminders

5. Response to 2001 Survey 50/50 states 9/11 metropolitan projects
1/8 territories

6. Question #1
Would it help your state if ACIP expressed a preference for the administration of hepatitis B vaccine to all infants prior to hospital discharge?

7. Responses to Question #1

8. Question #2 aware of any babies of HBsAg-positive
During the past several years, are you
aware of any babies of HBsAg-positive
mothers who were not prophylaxed within
12 hours of birth with HBIG and vaccinated
within 12 hours with hepatitis B vaccine?
If so, please tell how many of these
situations you know about and tell us how
these situations happened.

9. Over 200 examples provided from 38 states and projects
Response to Question #2
Over 200 examples provided from 38 states and projects

10. Reasons for infants not being appropriately prophylaxed when mother was HBsAg+
Hospital staff failed to notice or act upon HBsAg+ test result in mother’s or infant’s chart
Mother delivered at a different hospital or with a different care provider
Vaccine was erroneously withheld from preterm infants
Lack of knowledge on part of provider

11. Question #3 Do you know of any babies born to
mothers whose HBsAg status was
unknown at the time of birth and who did
not receive hepatitis B vaccine within 12
hours of birth?
If so, please describe how these
situations happened.

12. Reasons given for infants not being appropriately prophylaxed when mother was unscreened
“Stat” lab turn-around time more than 12 hours
Mother left hospital before results were available
Physician assumptions

13. Question #4 Do you know of babies whose mother’s
lab test for HBsAg was wrongly ordered,
misinterpreted, or mistranscribed?
If yes, please describe how these
situations happened.

14. Reasons for infants not being appropriately prophylaxed due to errors in test ordering, recording, or interpreting
Wrong screening test ordered-usually HBsAb (antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen) instead of HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) test
Test results misinterpreted
Test results mistranscribed

15. 2001 Survey Summary

16. Big question for 2002 survey: What’s the status of the birth dose after the January 2001 ACIP recommendation?

17. Response to 2002 Survey
50/50 states
6/6 local projects

18. Question #1
Has the new ACIP recommendation to give the birth dose had an impact in your state or project?

19. Response to Question #1

20. Question #2 During the past year (Oct. 2001-Oct. 2002),
are you aware of any babies of HBsAg+
mothers who were not prophylaxed within
12 hours of birth with HBIG and vaccinated
within 12 hours with hepatitis B vaccine?
If YES, please estimate the number of cases
describe why these situations happened.

21. 166 examples provided from 24 states and projects
Response to Question #2
166 examples provided from 24 states and projects

22. Question #3 During the past year (Oct. 2001-Oct. 2002),
do you know of any babies born to mothers
whose HBsAg status was unknown at the time
of birth and who did not receive hepatitis B
vaccine within 12 hours of birth?
If so, please estimate how many cases you
know about and describe how these situations
happened.

23. Response to Question #3
An additional 33 cases were provided, in addition to the ones mentioned in response to Question #1.

24. Question #4
During the past year (Oct Oct. 2002), are you aware of any babies whose mothers’ lab tests for HBsAg were wrongly ordered, misinterpreted, or mistranscribed?
If yes, please estimate the number of cases.

25. Response to Question #4
Approximately 163 cases were provided, in addition to the ones mentioned in response to Question #1.

26. This is the tip of the iceberg… Health department staff primarily follow HBsAg+ women and their babies: there may be many more mistakes made than reported here.

27. Question #5
Are there health care providers in your state or area who do not routinely give the birth dose?

28. Response to Question #5

29. If YES, in your opinion, what is the main reason they don’t (please check all that apply)

30. They are confused about the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for premature infants 10 (56 responders, 142 votes)

31. They don’t know about the ACIP and AAP statements recommending the birth dose for all infants 14 (56 responders, 142 votes)

32. They don’t understand the ACIP and AAP statements recommending the birth dose for all infants 14 (56 responders, 142 votes)

33. They use Comvax and don’t know how to correctly coordinate its use with single-antigen hepatitis B vaccine 18 (56 responders, 142 votes)

34. Other “Want to give first dose in office due to convenience and revenue” 20 (56 responders, 142 votes)

35. They use Comvax and don’t believe that it is necessary to begin the hepatitis B vaccine series before 2 months of age on infants born to HBsAg- women 32 (56 responders, 142 votes)

36. They don’t agree with the ACIP and AAP statements recommending the birth dose for all infants 34 (56 responders, 142 votes)

37. “Physicians tend to practice the way they want to, not necessarily the way that is recommended.”

38. 2002 Survey Summary

39. Reasons for NOT giving the birth dose
Administration in the office setting may cost less (and administration fee goes to provider)
It is easier to keep track of doses if all administered in the office
Combination vaccine can be given for first dose (Hib/Hepatitis B)
Perceived continued risk from thimerosal

40. Reasons FOR giving the birth dose
Prevents perinatal HBV transmission
Provides a safety net for babies born to unscreened mothers
Protects children from horizontal transmission in early infancy from caregivers and household contacts
Increases timely completion of vaccines

41. Weigh the benefits...

42. Suggestions to improve administration of the birth dose

43. More education especially from peers “Physicians need to hear from other physicians, not from nurses begging them to participate in programs to vaccinate infants.”

44. Address cost and reimbursement issues “They want to charge for the first dose in their office.” “Hospitals are concerned about cost because the cost of hep B immunization is bundled into the prenatal care rate and there is no separate mechanism for billing.” Extra cost built in when giving an extra dose because of Comvax use.

45. Address Comvax issues “Find a way to sell the birth dose plus Comvax to providers.” “Although it may be safe to give an extra dose of hep B vaccine when using Comvax, this costs a great deal of money for the states, providers, and parents… the only one benefiting is the vaccine manufacturer.” “Comvax is an anti-birth dose product. It confuses everyone. VFC should stop providing it.”

46. Standardize laboratory terms “Ensure universal abbreviations for lab markers are used and educate providers in their meaning.” “The differences in lab forms and lack of standardization of lab tests increases the likelihood of errors.”

47. Make it a law “Make it a law with waivers allowed
Make it a law “Make it a law with waivers allowed.” “Make it a mandatory action for babies to receive the birth dose.”

48. Make the recommendation stronger “The ACIP statement should say ‘Give the birth dose,’ period, not ‘soon after birth,’ or ‘at 2 months of age.’ Pediatricians don’t see that the new statement is any different than the old statement.”

49. Use scare tactics “Inform the providers of the liability they could face if a child develops hepatitis B as a result of missing the birth dose.” “Share cases where the hospital or physician did not follow ACIP recommendations and was sued.” “Give all doctors and clinics information on these types of errors.”

50. Visit IAC’s “Birth Dose” web page:
(12,219 views in year since posted)

51. IAC’s “Birth Dose” web page:
-2001 and 2002 survey results
-journal articles
-letter from Dr. Wexler
-advice from state coordinators
-article from State of Michigan
-education pieces for providers