Elimination of vertical transmission (EVT) of hepatitis B and triple elimination
The elimination of vertical transmission (EVT) of hepatitis B is a critical component of hepatitis elimination. Without preventive methods, approximately 90% of babies born to hepatitis B positive mothers will develop hepatitis B. Infants who acquire hepatitis B at birth also have a greater risk of developing liver cancer or liver failure.
Testing all pregnant women for hepatitis B as part of routine antenatal services is a critical intervention to end mother-to-child transmission. Women living with hepatitis B can then be linked to treatment and care. Delivering the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine within 24 hours of birth is also essential to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission that occurs during or just after birth.
These interventions should be delivered as part of comprehensive triple elimination services. The triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis is an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) that encourages integrated care and a commitment from countries to address all three diseases simultaneously.
However, many people living with hepatitis B continue to lack access to EVT services – leaving hundreds of thousands of infants at risk of acquiring hepatitis B. To help address this, WHA is working to ensure that countries scale up triple elimination programmes and ensure that all women living with hepatitis B have access to the lifesaving services they require.
WHA developed a community briefing for advocates that discusses the critical role of triple elimination and why hepatitis B is an integral part of triple elimination programmes. The briefing also includes calls to action for advocates to help support their efforts in working to expand access to triple elimination programmes.
World Hepatitis Testing Week 2025: Scaling up hepatitis B within triple elimination programmes
As part of World Hepatitis Testing Week, the World Hepatitis Alliance hosted a webinar to explore the critical role of triple elimination as part of comprehensive hepatitis programmes. It discussed different approaches to scaling up EVT services and how different stakeholders can collectively work together to drive progress towards triple elimination.
Chaired by Dee Lee, President elect of the World Hepatitis Alliance, speakers included:
- Jessica Hicks, Senior Director, World Hepatitis Alliance
- Dr Linda Kisaakye, Ministry of Health, Uganda
- Funmi Lesi, Hepatitis Team Lead, World Health Organization (WHO)
- Fatou Nguirane, President, SAAFARA Hépatites Sénégal
- Mohamed Salia, Founder & Director, Supporting Entrepreneurship & Economic Development, Sierra Leone
World Hepatitis Day 2025: Scaling up hepatitis B birth dose
The hepatitis B birth dose vaccine is a critical part of programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B. Vertical transmission of hepatitis B greatly increases an infant’s risk of developing liver cancer later in life but despite this, only 45% of newborns globally received the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine within 24 hours in 2022, with some regions further behind in implementing birth dose programmes. Ahead of World Hepatitis Day, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Hepatitis Alliance co-organised a webinar to promote the scale up of the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine in countries.
Chaired by Rachel Halford, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance, speakers included:
- Gloria Yamen Sonnen-Atinge, Nigeria
- Professor Funmi Lesi, Hepatitis Team Lead, WHO
- Dr Michael Besong, Senior Manager, Vaccine Programmes, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
- Doreen Ruth Akuno, Senior Nursing Office and Viral Hepatitis Focal point officer in the department of NDC Program under UNEPI, Ministry of Health Uganda
- Hassan Sibomana, Director of EPI, Rwanda Biomedical Center
Mothers and babies can’t wait – A call for action to end mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B
Key issues have delayed the progress of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of hepatitis B. Such issues include racial inequality, discrimination against women, and gross inequalities of healthcare access across the globe.
Our white paper outlines the context and human impact of mother-to-child transmission. It makes recommendations, which, when carried out in addition to established guidelines, will ensure that PMTCT services are equitable, accessible, and available to all who need them.
An open letter to Gavi: hepatitis B birth dose vaccine can't wait
In December 2022, we came together with global health organisations to call on Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to immediately start their hepatitis B birth dose programme.
Delay in the rollout of vaccination of the hepatitis B birth dose is leading to up to one million new infections in newborns per year of delay. This delay will likely result in the death of up to 25 per cent of those living with hepatitis B. This further adds to substantial costs to communities and health systems for treating liver cancer.
The current outcome goes against Gavi’s mission to “save lives and protect people’s health by increasing the equitable and sustainable use of vaccines”.
The open letter was published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
