History

The Louisiana Perinatal Hepatitis B Initiative began in September 1990 with an overall strategy  to eliminate Hepatitis B viral infection in Louisiana three phases. 

The first phase in the strategy was to eliminate and prevent new cases of Hepatitis B infections in both children and adults by:

• Recommending that all pregnant women in Louisiana be tested for HBsAg during an early prenatal visit.
• Infants born to a HBsAg positive mother must receive HBIG and first dose of HBsAg with in 12 hours of birth and complete a 3 dose series by 6months of age
• Prevention of HBV transmission to household and sexual contacts of HBsAg positive pregnant women
• Vaccinating all infants in populations with a high prevalence of chronic infection.

The second phase objective was:

• To provide hepatitis B vaccine to the Adolescent population
• Recommending that 10 -12 age group be targeted to receive HBsAg vaccine.
• And that high risk adolescents receive vaccine.

The third phase objective was:

• To collobrate with the STD sites to provide vaccine and health education about Hepatitis B virus.

The overall strategy is to eliminate Hepatitis B transmission in Louisiana and the United States through multiple approaches. 

Purpose

The purpose of the program was to reduce the risk of transmission of Hepatitis B in the infant population.  

Intervention strategies

Perinatal screening and universal infant vaccination that can prevent infection at all ages by providing vaccine to everyone early in life.  Adolescent vaccination is an important supplementary intervention until vaccinated infants reach adolescence.