It can also be transmitted from a mother who has hepatitis B to her baby during birth. The hepatitis B vaccination is part of the National Immunisation Schedule and is safe and free for children under 16 years. For babies born to mothers with hepatitis B, a vaccine within 24 hours of birth is crucial to prevent mother-to-child transmission. The Hepatitis Foundation of New ZealandThe Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand (HFNZ) is a charitable trust, contracted to Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora to provide a health monitoring programme that supports people living with chronic hepatitis B. The Foundation’s hepatitis B programme ensures timely interventions to prevent liver disease such as cirrhosis, liver cancer and/or liver failure.