Sudan to launch hepatitis B vaccination for newborns in 10 states

March 7, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Ministry of Health announced on Saturday it would launch a campaign on Sunday to vaccinate newborns against the hepatitis B virus across 10 states, though the drive will not initially include the Darfur and Kordofan regions.

The ministry said in a statement that the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine would be introduced as part of routine immunizations starting Sunday at the Omdurman Maternity Hospital. The campaign is set to cover the states of Khartoum, River Nile, Northern, Kassala, Gedaref, Red Sea, Gezira, White Nile, Blue Nile, and Sennar, with the remaining states to be included in a subsequent phase.

Health officials stated the vaccine will be administered to infants within their first 24 hours of life to bolster protection and prevent the transmission of the virus from mothers or other sources. The birth dose serves as the primary defence for infants against the viral infection.

As a proactive step ahead of the launch, the ministry organized a scientific forum on Thursday where four research papers were presented and discussed by medical experts.

The push for hepatitis B immunization comes as the country continues to grapple with wider viral outbreaks. Between January 1, 2025, and January 16, 2026, health authorities reported 3,826 cases and 52 deaths from hepatitis E across nine states. Al-Gezira state has been the hardest hit by that outbreak, accounting for 69.5% of the cases and 96% of the fatalities.

The ongoing conflict, now in its 35th month, has driven vaccination rates to their lowest levels in 40 years. According to United Nations data, the disruption has left children at severe risk from deadly but preventable diseases as the country’s healthcare infrastructure continues to struggle.