Summary:
more-inA multi-centre study in north India has shown that many newborns are protected at birth by natural antibodies to Hepatitis B and that the vaccination is not necessary at birth. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in susceptible persons. Naturally immuneThe study, whose findings have been published in the Indian Journal of Paediatrics, was done to look at whether Hepatitis B vaccination at birth was crucial for India. “Therefore, paradoxically, nationwide Hepatitis B vaccination may reduce natural antibody transfer to newborns and there is a possibility it may increase incidence of HCC instead of reducing it,” he said. Most babies are naturally immune to Hepatitis B infection due to passive transfer of antibodies from the mother..