Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B: birth-dose vaccination is not enough

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important contributor to the global burden of disease. Globally, 296 million people are living with chronic HBV infection, including 6 million children younger than 5 years, and about 1·5 million people newly infected with HBV annually.1 Furthermore, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma resulting from chronic HBV infection cause about 820 000 deaths per year.1 In 2016, WHO adopted the Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis, which called for a reduction of HBV incidence by 90% and mortality by 65% by 2030.