SLBMC Reaffirms Commitment to Hepatitis B Elimination with Strong Birth Dose Vaccination Efforts (Photo from SLBMC)
St. John’s, Antigua — In recognition of World Hepatitis B Day (July 28), the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) is reaffirming its commitment to the elimination of hepatitis B through its proactive birth dose vaccination program—a key pillar in Antigua and Barbuda’s public health efforts.
Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can lead to chronic disease, liver failure, and liver cancer. One of the most effective ways to prevent HBV transmission is by administering the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth—a critical window for protecting newborns, especially those at risk of mother-to-child transmission.
“At SLBMC, we routinely offer the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine to all newborns as part of our standard neonatal care,” said Dr. Saleem Hughes, Chair of SLBMC’s Paediatric Department. “This simple yet powerful intervention can protect children from a lifetime of chronic illness.”
From January to June 2025, 70% of babies born at SLBMC received the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth—a strong indicator of the hospital’s commitment to giving every child a healthy start in life.
SLBMC’s vaccination programme aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and supports global and regional strategies for the elimination of viral hepatitis. By integrating the hepatitis B birth dose into routine care, SLBMC is helping to:
Prevent lifelong chronic hepatitis B infectionsProtect future generations from liver diseaseStrengthen national and global hepatitis elimination effortsAs the country’s only tertiary care hospital, SLBMC encourages all parents and caregivers to speak with their healthcare providers about the importance of early vaccination and routine immunization.
Together, we can eliminate hepatitis—one birth, one vaccine, one healthy future at a time.
Strong birth dose??? Once is not overdose I’m good with that. Do what you must to protect the next generation
O please, another vaccine to damage our children and to make more money, why target our innocent little souls🙄🙄😡😡
Why are only 70% of babies getting the vaccine? What’s stopping full coverage?
Every Caribbean country should follow this model. Hep B can be eliminated in our lifetime if we act now.
SLBMC’s focus on birth dose is smart; it truly protects our future generations from lifelong chronic illness. A truly commendable effort.