PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) is proud to announce that its Women’s Center has received the Perinatal Award from the West Virginia Division of Immunization Services for outstanding efforts in protecting babies from hepatitis B, a serious but preventable disease.
Each year, 600 babies in West Virginia are born with exposure hepatitis C, a disease for which no vaccine is available. In comparison, only 20 babies are born each year with exposure to hepatitis B because the state’s strong vaccine laws have bolstered immunity among women of child-bearing age.
Hepatitis B can be deadly if not prevented or treated. The Women’s Center staff ensures every baby at risk gets the care and follow-up needed to complete the full vaccine series. Their work is especially vital in a region heavily impacted by the opioid crisis and related health risks.
“Our team works hard to identify newborns who may have been exposed to hepatitis B so action can be taken immediately to protect the health of the baby,” said PCH President and CEO Karen Bowling. “Early protection is critical. When we step in at birth, we can keep babies safe for life.”
The award is presented annually to one facility in the state that demonstrates outstanding diligence in submitting timely notifications to the local health department when a patient has chronic, acute, or perinatal hepatitis B.
