Malaysia recorded 49,992 Hepatitis B cases between 2013 and 2023. Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Datuk Dr NKS Tharmaseelan said administering the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth is a globally accepted practice and is highly effective in preventing infection in newborns. “Hepatitis B can be transmitted from mother to baby during childbirth, and the birth-dose is the most reliable way to ensure immediate protection,” he said when contacted. “Malaysia has introduced universal Hepatitis B vaccination in 1989, including the birth-dose. “Studies have shown a dramatic decline in Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriage among children and adolescents,” he said.

Source: The Star December 27, 2025 07:06 UTC