Perinatal Hepatitis: What should you know?

Introducing Anne-Marie Zamora, Sonoma County Immunization and HBV Program Coordinator. Anne-Marie works in disease control and is here to help with your perinatal hepatitis questions, as well as other perinatal vaccination questions


You can reach Anne-Marie by email: Anne-Marie.Zamora@sonoma-county.org

Perinatal Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a pregnant person poses a serious risk to the infant at birth

According to the CDC, without post-exposure immuno-prophylaxis, about 40% of infants born to HBV-infected persons will develop chronic liver disease, about one-fourth will eventually die of liver disease


  • Providers in California are mandated to rest pregnant persons for hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg)
  • Testing should be done early in pregnancy - regardless of of past testing results or vaccination status
  • Re-testing should be done if the pregnant person has recent IV drug use, has an HBsAg-positive sex partner, has had more than 1 sex partner in the past 6 months, or was recently treated for a sexually transmitted disease
Click here for CDC Guidelines
Click here for CDPH website and Provider's Perinatal Quicksheet
Click here for Client Resources from Hep B Moms

Perinatal Hepatitis A

People at risk for Hepatitis A include:

  • People who use illegal drugs (injection and non-injection)
  • People who are Homeless


Pregnant persons at risk for HAV infection, or at risk for severe outcome from HAV infection because they have chronic liver disease or HIV

Should be Vaccinated.


LINK to CDC recommendations for Hepatitis A

Perinatal Hepatitis C

All Pregnant Persons should be screened for anti-HCV during every pregnancy- ideally at the initial visit

  • Risk of transmitting HCV to infant is 4-8% per pregnancy
  • There is no evidence that breastfeeding transmits HCV
  • Children born to HCV positive persons should be tested no sooner than 18 months


LINK to CDC recommendations for Hepatitis C

Click the image above

To learn more about HCV in pregnancy From the American Association For the Study of Liver Disease

New Pediatric Hepatitis Update:

Health Advisory: Children and Acute Hepatitis/ Adenovirus 
Liver Health Teaching Resources for Kids and Adults

Sonoma County Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Website

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