Subscribe to health news headlines email updates. THURSDAY,
Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Many U.S. babies born to mothers
infected with hepatitis B do not receive recommended follow-up
testing after vaccination, a new study finds. About 25,000
infants are born to hepatitis B-infected mothers each year in
the United States, according to background information in the
study. Without vaccination, 40 to 90 percent of those infants
would become infected. Up to 90 percent of those who contracted
the virus would develop chronic infection and possibly die from
cirrhosis or liver cancer. Infants born to mothers infected with
hepatitis B should receive the hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis
B immune globulin within 12 hours of birth, the federal Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices recommends. Infants should
complete the three-dose hepatitis B series, which is up to 95
percent effective in preventing infections. Between ages 9
months and 18 months, these infants should also receive post-
vaccination blood testing