The legal framework
Kenya includes hepatitis B in the routine infant schedule from six weeks in the combined vaccine, but has not implemented a universal birth dose. Since mother-to-child transmission at delivery is what produces most chronic infections, that gap matters: the six-week dose protects against later exposure but not against perinatal transmission.
Kenya includes hepatitis B in the pentavalent vaccine given from six weeks, but does not routinely give a universal birth dose, which leaves the perinatal transmission route open. Antenatal screening for hepatitis B is not universal either. Prevalence is intermediate, and the combination of these two gaps is the focus of current policy discussion.
Key points
| Infant vaccination | In the routine schedule from six weeks, in the combined vaccine |
|---|---|
| Birth dose | Not universally implemented |
| Consequence | Perinatal transmission is not fully prevented |
| Antenatal screening | Not routine in all facilities; ask for it |
| Prevalence | Intermediate |
| Treatment | Available in referral hospitals, often at the patient's cost |
| Blood safety | Screening of donated blood is mandatory |
In practice
- Ask specifically for hepatitis B testing during pregnancy — it is not automatic everywhere.
- If you are a carrier, discuss what can be done for the newborn before delivery.
- Have household contacts tested and vaccinated.
- Chronic carriers should be monitored even if treatment is not started.
Cost and coverage
Vaccination through routine immunisation is free; testing and treatment often are not.
Where to go
- Public health facilities and immunisation clinics.
- Referral hospitals with gastroenterology services.
- National viral hepatitis programme.
Worth knowing
Because there is no universal birth dose, knowing your status before delivery is what protects the baby. Ask for the test rather than waiting to be offered it.
Frequently asked questions
Is hepatitis B screening part of antenatal care in Kenya?
Not universally. It is offered in some facilities and to women with risk factors, but it is not a routine part of the antenatal package everywhere. If you are pregnant, ask for the test specifically — knowing the result is what makes protection of the baby possible.
Why does the birth dose matter so much?
Because transmission from mother to baby at birth is the route most likely to produce a lifelong chronic infection — an infant infected at birth has a very high chance of never clearing the virus, whereas an adult usually does. A vaccine dose within twenty-four hours of birth, with immunoglobulin where the mother is positive, prevents this in the great majority of cases.
Official sources and links
- eCitizen — official government services portal