Hepatitis B vaccine given at birth must be administered within how many hours of birth for maximum protective efficacy against perinatal transmission?

• A 6 hours
• B 12 hours
• C 72 hours
• D 24 hours ✓

Explanation

The birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine must be given within 24 hours of birth (ideally within 12 hours) to prevent perinatal mother-to-child transmission. Combined with HBIG in HBsAg-positive mothers, this strategy is highly effective. Delay beyond 24 hours significantly reduces the protective efficacy of the birth dose against perinatal transmission.

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.