By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma,
Senior Health Promotion Officer – HEP/MoH

Freetown | September 14, 2026: Sierra Leone will introduce the Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine this November, a landmark step to protect more than 355,000 newborns each year from a virus that can cause lifelong liver disease and cancer.

The Ministry of Health, through its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), confirmed that the vaccine will be administered within 24 hours of birth, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

Programme Manager Dr. Desmond Maada Kangbai described the rollout as a milestone for child health: “Our priority is to ensure that every newborn has the opportunity to receive this life-saving vaccine as early as possible after birth.”

Hepatitis B, often called a “silent infection,” can remain undetected for years. But infections acquired at birth or in early childhood carry a high risk of becoming chronic, leading to severe liver disease and cancer later in life.

The new intervention will be integrated into maternal and newborn care services, with trained nurses administering the vaccine in labour rooms and postnatal wards. The national target is to reach 95 percent of eligible newborns, ensuring protection from mother-to-child transmission.

Africa bears nearly 70 percent of the global Hepatitis B burden, yet birth-dose coverage remains low across the continent. Sierra Leone’s introduction signals a commitment not only to immunization but to safeguarding future generations.

Dr. Kangbai urged families and community leaders to support the rollout: “The Hepatitis B birth dose is part of giving every child a healthy start in life. We are calling on families to ensure their newborns receive the vaccine as recommended.”