{"id":5482,"date":"2025-12-11T12:37:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T20:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/11\/what-is-hepatitis-b-and-why-are-newborns-vaccinated-against-it-shots\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T12:37:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T20:37:55","slug":"what-is-hepatitis-b-and-why-are-newborns-vaccinated-against-it-shots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/11\/what-is-hepatitis-b-and-why-are-newborns-vaccinated-against-it-shots\/","title":{"rendered":"What is hepatitis B, and why are newborns vaccinated against it? : Shots"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-100151\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 2121;&#10;        --source-height: 1414;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2121x1414+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2F79258fa34cbcaf7a832d2d33d2d8%2Fgettyimages-1386688398.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                The hepatitis B virus attacks the liver. Hepatitis B has no cure, and chronic infection can lead to serious outcomes such as liver cancer, cirrhosis and death.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    angelp\/iStockphoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        angelp\/iStockphoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>For more than three decades, it has been routine to give all newborns in the U.S. the hepatitis B vaccine. That could soon change.<\/p>\n<p>An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to vote Friday on whether to rescind that universal recommendation.  Some members of the committee argue that it&#8217;s not necessary to vaccinate all newborns against hepatitis B.<\/p>\n<p>But many pediatricians say the health consequences of ending the recommendation could result in dire health consequences.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It would be extremely dangerous,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcare.utah.edu\/find-a-doctor\/andrew-t-pavia\" target=\"_blank\">Dr. Andrew Pavia<\/a> told NPR this year. He&#8217;s a professor of pediatrics and medicine with the University of Utah and a pediatric and adult infectious disease specialist.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">What is hepatitis B?<\/h3>\n<p>The hepatitis B virus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/hepatitis-b\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20366802\" target=\"_blank\">attacks the liver<\/a>. The disease has no cure, and chronic infection can lead to serious outcomes such as liver cancer, cirrhosis and death. And the risks of these outcomes are much higher for people who get infected as infants.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5629168-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5619295\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/11\/24\/nx-s1-5619295\/navigating-vaccine-misinformation-with-a-pediatrician\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/11\/24\/nx-s1-5619295\/navigating-vaccine-misinformation-with-a-pediatrician&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F31%2Fb5e5ce24463181fa3c933f571ad8%2Fbaa9692a-07f9-479b-af52-934440658550.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F31%2Fb5e5ce24463181fa3c933f571ad8%2Fbaa9692a-07f9-479b-af52-934440658550.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F31%2Fb5e5ce24463181fa3c933f571ad8%2Fbaa9692a-07f9-479b-af52-934440658550.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F31%2Fb5e5ce24463181fa3c933f571ad8%2Fbaa9692a-07f9-479b-af52-934440658550.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F31%2Fb5e5ce24463181fa3c933f571ad8%2Fbaa9692a-07f9-479b-af52-934440658550.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F31%2Fb5e5ce24463181fa3c933f571ad8%2Fbaa9692a-07f9-479b-af52-934440658550.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F31%2Fb5e5ce24463181fa3c933f571ad8%2Fbaa9692a-07f9-479b-af52-934440658550.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F31%2Fb5e5ce24463181fa3c933f571ad8%2Fbaa9692a-07f9-479b-af52-934440658550.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Navigating vaccine misinformation with a pediatrician\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5629168-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;About 25% of children who develop chronic hepatitis B will die of their infection,&#8221; says Pavia, who is also a spokesperson for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idsociety.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Infectious Diseases Society of America<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Delaying the birth dose by just two months could result in at least 1,400 additional preventable cases of hepatitis B for each year the revised recommendation is in place, <a href=\"https:\/\/hepvu.org\/news-updates\/new-analysis-shows-delaying-the-hepatitis-b-birth-dose-may-lead-to-thousands-of-preventable-infections-and-hundreds-of-millions-in-avoidable-healthcare-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\">according to a new analysis<\/a>. Delaying the vaccine until age 12, as President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/09\/25\/nx-s1-5553541\/trump-advises-parents-on-hepatitis-b-vaccine-heres-why-doctors-say-hes-wrong\" target=\"_blank\">Trump suggested<\/a> this year, could result in at least 2,700 preventable infections each year, the analysis found. The study was released prior to peer review, ahead of this week&#8217;s meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.<\/p>\n<p>Before the U.S. began universally vaccinating newborns in 1991, some 18,000 children a year would become infected before age 10. About half were infected through mother-to-child transmission, Pavia says. Giving newborns the shot right after birth prevents the virus from taking hold.<\/p>\n<p>The other half of kids got infected from somewhere else. Trump said hepatitis B is sexually transmitted \u2014 which is one means of transmission \u2014 so there&#8217;s no reason to give the vaccine to a baby. But Pavia says the risks for kids are everywhere.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;There have been cases of infections in day care. There have been cases of infection on sports teams. There have been documented infections from shared toothbrushes and from shared razors,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n<p>The virus is found in blood, saliva, semen and other bodily fluids, even tears, and it can live on surfaces for up to seven days. A child with a wound who comes into contact with that surface \u2014 even days later \u2014 could become infected, says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.anitakpatelmd.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Anita Patel<\/a>, a pediatrician and pediatric critical care physician in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/hepatitis-b\/about\/index.html#:~:text=Chronic%20hepatitis%20B%20*%20CDC%20estimates%20that,as%20the%20rate%20among%20non%2DHispanic%20White%20people.\" target=\"_blank\">half of people infected with hepatitis B<\/a> don&#8217;t know they have the virus, but Patel says they can still pass on the virus unwittingly.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If you have a cut, that blood could potentially get on the infant,&#8221; Patel says. &#8220;And if that infant has any sort of break in their skin \u2014 as infants, frankly, frequently do \u2014 they can then get hepatitis B,&#8221; says Patel.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aasld.org\/the-liver-meeting\/speakers\/su-h-wang-122984#:~:text=Biography,AASLD%20HBV%20Guidelines%20Writing%20group.\" target=\"_blank\">Dr. Su Wang<\/a> says she suspects she got infected with hepatitis B as an infant through her grandparents. She says they likely got exposed through their jobs as medical workers in Taiwan. Taiwan used to have very high rates of hepatitis B infection among adults before it began a <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7472725\/#:~:text=The%20vaccine%20program%20has%20been,abdominal%20ultrasonography%20are%20performed%20regularly.\" target=\"_blank\">successful national vaccination<\/a> program in the 1980s.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5629168-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5572507\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/10\/12\/nx-s1-5572507\/us-measles-outbreaks-texas-south-carolina-utah-minnesota\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/10\/12\/nx-s1-5572507\/us-measles-outbreaks-texas-south-carolina-utah-minnesota&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1054+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F86%2Fceac00b645eaad802475df261003%2Fgettyimages-2202126238.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1054+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F86%2Fceac00b645eaad802475df261003%2Fgettyimages-2202126238.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1054+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F86%2Fceac00b645eaad802475df261003%2Fgettyimages-2202126238.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1054+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F86%2Fceac00b645eaad802475df261003%2Fgettyimages-2202126238.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1054+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F86%2Fceac00b645eaad802475df261003%2Fgettyimages-2202126238.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1054+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F86%2Fceac00b645eaad802475df261003%2Fgettyimages-2202126238.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1054+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F86%2Fceac00b645eaad802475df261003%2Fgettyimages-2202126238.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1054+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F86%2Fceac00b645eaad802475df261003%2Fgettyimages-2202126238.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Raynard Covarrubio fills a syringe with the MMR vaccine, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1 in Lubbock, Texas. West Texas saw a measles outbreak this year.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5629168-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When I was born, they came over to help, like a lot of grandparents do, and they lived with us,&#8221; Wang says. &#8220;They became primary caregivers for the first month of life. And so very likely that&#8217;s how I got hep B.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Wang is now an internist and researcher specializing in hepatitis at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p>She says it&#8217;s very important to give the shot at birth. Since vaccination of newborns became routine in the U.S., case rates have plummeted 99% among people age 19 and younger.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-third-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap third\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;When we started doing this as universal for all kids, you saw this blanket protection that protected an entire generation of kids,&#8221; Wang says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The hepatitis B virus attacks the liver. Hepatitis B has no cure, and chronic infection can lead to serious outcomes such as liver cancer, cirrhosis and death. angelp\/iStockphoto\/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption angelp\/iStockphoto\/Getty Images For more than three decades, it has been routine to give all newborns in the U.S. the hepatitis B vaccine. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[327],"tags":[2056,2091,411,2092],"class_list":{"0":"post-5482","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-hepatitis","9":"tag-newborns","10":"tag-shots","11":"tag-vaccinated"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v26.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is hepatitis B, and why are newborns vaccinated against it? : Shots - Well Rooted Wellness<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/11\/what-is-hepatitis-b-and-why-are-newborns-vaccinated-against-it-shots\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is hepatitis B, and why are newborns vaccinated against it? : Shots\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The hepatitis B virus attacks the liver. Hepatitis B has no cure, and chronic infection can lead to serious outcomes such as liver cancer, cirrhosis and death. angelp\/iStockphoto\/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption angelp\/iStockphoto\/Getty Images For more than three decades, it has been routine to give all newborns in the U.S. the hepatitis B vaccine. 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