Can Delayed Administration of the Third Dose of Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns Still Induce Antibodies?

Question

Can Delayed Administration of the Third Dose of Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns Still Induce Antibodies? Question: My child was born on September 24th, received the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine on October 30th, and due to a cold, received the DPT vaccine on March 12th. Calculating this way, the third dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine should have been administered by April 9th, which is 15 days late. Can antibodies still be produced?

Answer

The Hepatitis B vaccine regimen consists of three doses, following a schedule of 0, 1, and 6 months after the first dose. This means that after the first dose is administered, the second and third doses are given one month and six months later, respectively. Newborns should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of birth. The second and third doses are boosters and are typically administered after the first dose to produce antibodies. Antibodies can be produced regardless of when the vaccine is administered, and since your child received the third dose at the sixth month after birth, it is not considered late. Suggestion: Antibodies can still be produced; there is no need to worry. I hope this information is helpful to you, and wish your child good health.