Abstract

MAPONGA, T G; ANDERSSON, MI  and  PREISER, W. When will South Africa take the prevention of chronic HBV infection seriously?. SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. [online]. 2026, vol.116, n.2, pp.20-21. ISSN 2078-5135.  https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2026v116i2.3771.

South Africa (SA) bears a significant burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with a significant prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among pregnant women. In response, the National Department of Health has recommended targeted birth-dose vaccination for infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers. While we commend the move towards antenatal HBsAg screening to identify infected pregnant women, we reiterate that a universal HBV birth-dose vaccination strategy would be a simpler, more equitable and more effective approach to preventing vertical transmission and reducing the overall HBV burden in SA.

Keywords : hepatitis B virus; birth-dose vaccine; mother-to-child transmission.

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