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Published on: February 1, 2017
Infant and adolescent hepatitis B immunization up to 1999: a global overview
Insights
Global hepatitis B immunization programs vary by region, with high coverage in endemic areas but challenges in vaccine affordability. Universal strategies reduce disease, yet most infants remain unvaccinated, necessitating improved delivery and financing.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global health burden, particularly in endemic regions.
- Infant and adolescent immunization are critical strategies for controlling HBV transmission and long-term sequelae.
- Understanding global immunization program patterns is essential for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive global overview of hepatitis B infant and adolescent immunization programs.
- To analyze factors influencing the implementation and coverage of these programs worldwide.
- To identify challenges and propose strategies for increasing global hepatitis B vaccination rates.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of reported universal infant or adolescent immunization programs (n=108) and national infant coverage rates (n=87).
- Correlation of program data with hepatitis B endemicity, national prosperity, policy emphasis, and immunization program strength.
- Geographical mapping and comparative analysis of vaccination strategies across different global regions.
Main Results:
- Hepatitis B immunization coverage varies globally, generally correlating with regional endemicity, economic status, and policy focus.
- High coverage (65-100%) is observed in many East/Southeast Asian, Pacific, Middle Eastern, and some European countries.
- Despite proven effectiveness, many countries face challenges affording the vaccine, leading to low global infant immunization rates.
Conclusions:
- Universal hepatitis B immunization programs have successfully reduced disease incidence and prevalence, demonstrating cost-effectiveness.
- Significant barriers remain, including vaccine affordability and logistical challenges in reaching all infants globally.
- Future strategies may involve heat-stable vaccines, innovative financing, and multivalent vaccines to improve global coverage and reduce hepatitis B burden.
Abstract:
This article presents a global overview of hepatitis B infant and adolescent immunization programmes. The 108 reported universal infant or adolescent immunization programmes and 87 reported national infant coverage rates fit a pattern, explained by hepatitis B endemicity, prosperity, policy emphasis, and immunization programme strength. Most East and Southeast Asian, Pacific, and Middle Eastern countries have intermediate to highly endemic hepatitis B. Most have achieved 65-100% coverage. South and Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have intermediate to high endemicity, with some countries having hepatitis B immunization programmes. Some Southern and Eastern European countries, with intermediate endemicity, have high coverage. Low endemic Northern European countries vaccinate higher risk groups; some have universal infant or adolescent programmes. Caribbean and Latin American countries have varying endemicity, and most started programmes. Low endemic North American countries have universal vaccination programmes. Universal immunization strategies have greatly reduced incidence and prevalence, and are cost-effective for many countries, but many have difficulties affording this vaccine. Globally, most infants are not being immunized against hepatitis B virus infection. Increasing coverage, and decreasing the numbers of people diseased and dying from this virus, may require delivering heat-stable vaccine beyond cold chains, creative financing to reduce prices, and multivalent vaccines.
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