A child born to an HBsAg-positive mother at 36 weeks gestation weighing 2.2 kg. The correct hepatitis B immunoprophylaxis approach within 24 hours of birth is:

• A Hepatitis B vaccine alone (birth dose) since HBIG is not available in India's NIS
• B Delay vaccination until weight exceeds 2.5 kg before giving birth dose
• C Hepatitis B vaccine alone; HBIG is not recommended for preterm infants
• D HBIG 0.5 mL IM + Hepatitis B vaccine at different sites within 12 hours of birth ✓

Explanation

Infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers should receive both Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (HBIG) 0.5 mL IM and the first dose of Hep B vaccine at different sites within 12 hours of birth, regardless of gestational age or birth weight. This combination reduces perinatal transmission by >90%. The hepatitis B birth dose under NIS should not be delayed for low birth weight; if HBIG is unavailable (resource-limited settings), the vaccine alone is given but HBIG is the standard of care in referral settings.

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.