Should mothers with a negative HBsAg test give hepatitis B vaccine to their children within 24 hours?

Vaccination against hepatitis B within 24 hours not only prevents mother-to-child transmission but also prevents horizontal transmission from surrounding environments, people in charge of taking care of young children, and relatives.

In cases where the mother has a negative HBsAg test, it is theoretically unlikely that they will contract hepatitis B, but hepatitis B vaccination soon after delivery is still possible for the following reasons:
False negative test while the mother is still infected with hepatitis B virus. In addition, there may be cases of test quality, recording errors, misreporting. Some special cases are mutated strains of hepatitis B virus, so they can completely evade the immune system and cannot be detected through normal blood tests. The mother is infected during the window period (between 30-60 days) so it will not be detected by tests Even though the mother has a negative HBsAg test, the baby can still be exposed to hepatitis B in the room born from a healthcare worker or another pregnant woman, or even from a relative who has hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B virus can enter young children through the following ways:
Mother-to-child transmission Currently, infants are the main source of hepatitis B virus infection in many countries around the world. The ability to transmit the virus from mother to baby during birth is very easy.
Transmission during injection and blood transfusion If young children are not vaccinated safely, this is an easy way for hepatitis B virus to be transmitted.

Child-to-child transmission Young children can be transmitted at places such as homes, children's hospitals, schools or kindergartens. Usually, the mechanism for transmission between children can be through wounds, abrasions to the skin, bleeding mucous membranes, or secretions from the wound.
In addition, the hepatitis B virus can also be transmitted by direct contact with saliva in many ways such as chewing baby food, bites, scratches on the skin.

Note that after vaccination, young children need to be monitored for 30 minutes at vaccination sites, in addition, need to be monitored for an additional day after vaccination. Children often show more fussiness after the injection, so mothers should pay more attention to the child, breastfeed while awake, do not lie down to breastfeed. Common reactions after injection such as fever, pain, swelling at the injection site, ... need to feed the child more or drink more water, can apply cool compress and monitor the child. If the child has a high fever or has the above symptoms for a long time, take the child immediately to the nearest medical facility. Vinmec Times City International General Hospital is an option for parents looking for a place to vaccinate their children. The hospital has built a professional vaccination and consultation room with a cold chain for optimal vaccine storage (from cold storage to vaccine refrigerators, there are temperature alarms that are over the allowed temperature range, ...

Vinmec Times City Hospital has proactively built an automatic vaccination reminder software to text customers right from the moment they give birth and use the service at Vinmec. The hospital is also building vaccination management software so that customers can check their injection history and injection plan via computer or phone.
The screening doctors here are all highly qualified and experienced who can advise the family fully, not only about vaccines, but also give detailed advice on vaccines along with how to care and nurture children strong. If you want to know more information, you can contact to book an appointment for specific consultation with good doctors such as Dr. Nguyen Hai Ha, Dr. Pham Tien Thinh.
Parents can directly bring their children to Vinmec Times City for examination or contact hotline 0243 9743 556 for support.