As part of routine infant immunisation in India, the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine birth dose must be administered within what interval after delivery?

• A Within 7 days of birth
• B Within 72 hours of birth
• C At 6 weeks along with the first DPT dose
• D Within 24 hours of birth ✓

Explanation

The hepatitis B birth dose must be given within 24 hours of birth because perinatal transmission from an HBeAg-positive mother carries up to a 90 percent risk of chronicity in the newborn, and timely passive-active protection depends on very early immunisation. Delaying to 6 weeks misses the critical window in which most vertical transmission events occur.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.