Is a Hepatitis B vaccine necessary at one month?

Q: My child is 3 months old. She had received the following vaccines: Just after birth - BCG, oral polio and HPV; At 6 weeks DPT, Hib, oral polio; At 10 weeks: DPT, Hib, oral polio. I came to know from one of my friends, that I missed one HBV vaccine at 1 month of age. What should I do now? Is it is possible to give that vaccine now?

A:Yes, you have missed Hepatitis B virus vaccine at 1 month or 6 weeks of age. This vaccine prevents an important cause of jaundice and chronic liver disease and is now a part of the national immunisation programme. It is best to give it at the earliest but after four weeks of the last vaccination. A third dose would also be necessary at around 9 months of age. This then will complete the primary immunisation for hepatitis B vaccine.