Yes, newborns typically get a hepatitis B shot in the first 24 hours; some countries also give BCG and a polio birth dose.
Vaccines Right After Birth: Common Practice
Hospitals give shots early to protect babies while they are most at risk. One dose in the nursery can block infections that pass through blood or tiny cuts. Staff also use that window because parents are present, records can start, and dosing errors are rare when the care team handles it on the spot.
| Vaccine | What It Prevents | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis B (birth dose) | Liver infection that can become chronic in infants | Within 24 hours of delivery |
| BCG | Severe forms of tuberculosis in young children | At delivery or soon after, in countries with TB risk |
| Polio “zero dose” (OPV0) | Paralytic poliomyelitis | At delivery where oral polio campaigns run |
Why The First Hepatitis B Shot Matters
This liver virus spreads through body fluids. Newborns can pick it up during delivery or from close household contact. When a baby gets infected, long-term infection is the rule rather than the exception. That raises the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer later in life. A day-one dose shuts that door for the vast majority of babies and starts a series that brings near-complete protection once finished.
Public health groups call for a day-one dose for every baby, not only those with known exposure. Screening during pregnancy catches most carriers, yet a small number slip past because tests can miss very recent infection. A routine dose covers that gap and is easy to deliver before families head home.
What Different Countries Do
Policies vary by disease levels and program capacity, but the most common pattern is a birth dose of the liver shot for all newborns. Many nations also pair it with BCG in the nursery. Where polio campaigns run, babies may receive an oral “zero dose” before the first clinic visits begin. Local schedules then continue at six weeks with combination shots that include the next liver dose.
In Bangladesh, the national program lists BCG at delivery, an oral polio “zero dose,” and routine series visits starting at six weeks. In the United States, the day-one liver shot is standard for all medically stable newborns. In settings with low TB burden, BCG may be limited to risk groups. Your hospital team will follow the local plan and record the lot number and site in the infant chart and on the card you take home.
Safety, Side Effects, And Ingredients
Shots given in the nursery have a strong safety record. Soreness at the injection site is the most common reaction. Fever is uncommon after the liver shot. BCG leaves a small bump that can turn into a tiny scar; that is expected and shows the dose took. Oral polio drops do not involve needles and are swallowed.
Doses use tiny amounts of antigen and stabilizers. Newborn series products do not contain live hepatitis B virus. The liver shot is a recombinant vaccine made from a single viral protein. BCG is a live attenuated vaccine designed to train the immune system against severe TB in young children. Nurses use single-use syringes and standard aseptic steps.
Timing For Preterm Or Low Birth Weight Babies
For the liver shot, most programs use the same first-day timing for babies who are medically stable. If an infant weighs under 2,000 grams and the birth parent tests negative, some programs give the dose at a later visit while keeping a rapid plan in place if test results change. If the birth parent has the virus, the liver shot and immune globulin are given right away while the infant stays in the nursery. Staff then schedule the rest of the series based on weight and age.
What Parents Can Expect In The Hospital
A nurse confirms the baby’s name band, draws up the dose, and gives the shot in the anterolateral thigh. The team records the lot, site, and time. If BCG is part of the local plan, a tiny intradermal dose goes into the upper arm. You can hold and soothe during and after each step. Feeding after the shot is fine.
Before discharge, you receive a record card. Keep it with other newborn papers. Many clinics also add entries to a national registry so later doses are easy to track. If you leave early or deliver outside a hospital, ask the first clinic you visit to start the schedule right away.
Missed The Birth Dose? Here Is The Plan
If the first liver shot did not happen in the hospital, start as soon as you can. The series then continues at the normal visit times. If the birth parent carries the virus, the clinic will add immune globulin and run blood tests to check for exposure. For BCG or polio, clinics follow local catch-up rules. Health workers can guide you based on the age at first visit and the area where you live.
Answers To Common Worries
“Can a baby handle a shot on day one?” The dose is small, and the thigh muscle tolerates it well. Feeding, skin-to-skin, and swaddling help with comfort. Sugar water by mouth can also calm an infant during a brief poke.
“What about aluminum?” The small amount used as an adjuvant in some products is within safe limits. Newborns take in more aluminum from regular feeding over time than from the first dose series. Kidneys clear it.
“Is there a way to wait?” Delays raise the window of risk. Household spread can happen through tiny shared items like nail clippers or toothbrushes. Starting on day one narrows that window and locks in early protection.
How The Series Continues
The first hospital dose starts a series that finishes in the first year of life. Many programs use a three-dose schedule at day one, one to two months, and then six months or later. Some combination products add an extra dose as part of mixed vaccines. Clinics track minimum intervals so protection builds as planned.
| Vaccine | When It’s Due | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis B | Within 24 hours; next at 1–2 months | Use thigh muscle; start even if parent’s status is unknown |
| BCG | At delivery or soon after | Small bump and scar are expected |
| Polio (OPV0) | At delivery where used | Zero dose does not replace routine series |
Pain And Comfort: What Helps
Babies feel brief sting and pressure with a thigh shot. Comfort steps work well: skin-to-skin, breastfeeding during or right after the poke, a snug swaddle, and a calm voice. A pacifier dipped in sucrose solution is another option many nurseries use. Side effects later in the day are usually mild and short. If the site looks red and warm, a cool cloth soothes it. Call your nurse or clinic if swelling spreads or the baby seems unwell for reasons beyond a sore leg.
Consent, Records, And Proof For School Or Travel
Before dosing, staff talk through what is planned and answer questions. You can say yes to each item as it is given. The team adds the details to the birth chart, prints your card, and shows where each entry sits. That card matters later. Clinics use it to schedule the one to two month visit, and schools and day care centers ask for it years down the line.
If You Plan A Home Birth Or Early Discharge
Families who leave early or plan a home delivery still have access to day-one protection. Ask your midwife or local clinic about timing and product supply before the due date. Starting within 24 hours is ideal. If day one passes, do not wait for a full checkup slot; most clinics can handle a quick visit just for the newborn shots.
Reading Trusted Sources
Public health agencies publish exact timing and product details. The national disease center pages list the day-one dose for all newborns and explain why the series starts early. Global guidance also notes where BCG belongs in the nursery and which regions use the polio zero dose.
Local Schedule Differences And Travel
If you give birth in one country and move soon after, bring the record card to the first clinic in the new location. Staff will map your next dates to the local plan and pick matching products. If BCG is given in the new region but not in the place of birth, the clinic can still give it if the baby is the right age and screening is clear. The same applies to polio programs that add a zero dose at delivery.
The Bottom Line For New Parents
Day-one protection against a liver virus is a long-standing standard that keeps kids safe. In many places, BCG and an oral polio start join that first step. Records begin in the hospital, the series continues at clinic visits, and nurses are ready to help if a dose was missed. With the card in hand and clear dates ahead, you can leave the nursery with a simple, strong plan.