The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has launched an initiative to Give birth to the end of Hep B with its new guide, “Hepatitis B: What Hospitals Need to Do to Protect Newborns.” Endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this comprehensive resource is a one-stop shop for assisting birthing institutions in establishing, implementing, and optimizing their birth dose policies.

During an event on July 16th in Albany, New York, IAC will present the guidebook and initiate its Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll.

The Birth Dose Honor Roll recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that have attained high coverage rates for administering hepatitis B vaccine at birth. IAC’s inaugural Birth Dose Honoree is Albany Medical Center, which, with support from the New York State Department of Health Immunization Bureau, achieved a birth dose coverage rate of 99%.

IAC, CDC, the New York State Department of Health, and Albany Medical Center will conduct a free one-hour webinar, beginning at 12 noon ET, presenting strategies and tools for implementing the hepatitis B birth dose.

Registration for the webinar is now open at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/751803942

Please register early.

Visit IAC’s birth dose web section at http://www.immunize.org/protect-newborns
for the latest information and for downloading the birth dose guide after July
15, 2013.