By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma
Sierra Leone is getting ready to give its youngest citizens a powerful new defence against a virus that can cause lifelong liver disease and cancer. The Ministry of Health has announced it will introduce the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth in November 2026, which officials say will greatly reduce mother-to-child transmission and protect an estimated 355,363 infants expected to be born that year.
“Introduction of the birth dose is a major milestone for child health in Sierra Leone,” said Dr Desmond Maada Kangbai, Program Manager, Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI) at the Ministry of Health. “The introduction of the Hepatitis B birth dose in November 2026 is a landmark moment for Sierra Leone,” said Dr Kangbai. “Our goal is to make sure every baby has access to this life-saving vaccine as soon as possible after birth.”
The hepatitis B virus is frequently referred to as a “silent” infection because people who have the virus often have few or no symptoms for years. Infection acquired at birth or in early childhood is far more likely to become chronic. Over time, Chronic Hepatitis B infection can cause serious liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. International health authorities recommend early vaccination for women to prevent mother-to-child transmission around the time of delivery.
The World Health Organisation recommends that all infants receive their first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours. This guidance underpins Sierra Leone’s planned program. Every child born in the country will receive the birth dose, with a national ambition to reach at least 95 per cent of eligible newborns. The vaccine will be delivered through existing maternal, newborn and child health services, focusing on labour rooms and postnatal wards, where trained professional nurses will give it.
Officials stress that the birth dose will not be given alone but will be part of regular care for mothers and newborns. The rollout provides an opportunity to enhance antenatal education to help expectant mothers and families better understand Hepatitis B, the risks of perinatal transmission and the importance of ensuring newborns receive the vaccine right after birth. The program aims to integrate the birth dose into essential newborn care pathways, to improve access to other important birth interventions and strengthen overall maternal and child health services.
Dr Kangbai appealed to communities to ensure the successful launch. “We want parents, caregivers and community leaders to know that the Hepatitis B birth dose is part of giving every child a healthy start in life. “We’re urging families to make sure their newborns are vaccinated as recommended,” he said.
The Hepatitis B vaccine has been around for decades and is very effective. When the three doses in the recommended series are completed, they protect about 98 to 100 per cent of people from infection. Evidence indicates protection for at least 20 years and probably a lifetime, with a reduced long-term burden of liver disease and cancer in vaccinated cohorts.
The introduction of Sierra Leone is particularly important given Africa’s high Hepatitis B burden. The continent accounts for about 70 per cent of global Hepatitis B infections, but coverage of timely birth-dose vaccination remains low in many countries. Sierra Leone is now among an increasing number of countries that include the birth dose in their immunisation schedule as a key pillar of efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B.
The program is an investment in the country’s future workforce and communities, as well as in individual health benefits. Preventing chronic Hepatitis B saves health care costs, prevents premature deaths and saves families the social and economic costs of long-term illness. And for each of those estimated 355,363 children, the vaccine represents a chance at a healthier life.
Operationally, the Ministry will use the existing workforce of professional nurses in maternity settings to deliver the birth dose and will integrate the activity into routine immunisation and maternal-newborn care systems. The strategy aims to support sustainability and ensure the intervention reaches facility-based births and, where possible, through linked services for community-based births.
Sierra Leone is preparing for the launch in November 2026, and health officials and partners are coordinating logistics, training and community engagement activities. “The message they are sending to parents and communities is simple. One dose at birth can provide lifelong protection.” Save all the babies. Prevent Hepatitis B. Protect the next generation.
