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Viral hepatitis: global goals for vaccination
1Ruelle des Chataigniers 1, CH-1026 Denges VD, Switzerland. daniel.lavanchy@alumnibasel.ch
Summary
Hepatitis B vaccination offers protection against infection and liver cancer. While hepatitis A vaccines are useful in intermediate endemicity areas, hepatitis C vaccine development remains unsuccessful.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Hepatitis A virus (HAV) exposure is near-universal in highly endemic regions before age 10, negating widespread immunization needs.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global pathogen causing millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths annually from chronic liver disease and cancer.
- Hepatitis E vaccine development is progressing, with one licensed but not widely available, while hepatitis C vaccine efforts have been unsuccessful.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status and strategies for viral hepatitis control through vaccination.
- To highlight the significance of hepatitis B vaccine in preventing chronic infection, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- To discuss the varying roles of vaccination based on hepatitis A virus (HAV) endemicity levels.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data on viral hepatitis prevalence and impact.
- Analysis of vaccine efficacy and public health outcomes in different endemic settings.
- Summary of vaccine development pipelines for hepatitis A, B, E, and C.
Main Results:
- Hepatitis B vaccine is the first licensed against a cancer, a sexually transmitted infection, and a chronic disease, with documented success in reducing HBV incidence and HCC in East Asia and Africa.
- Hepatitis A vaccination programs are effective in areas of intermediate endemicity with person-to-person transmission.
- Experimental hepatitis E vaccines show promise, but hepatitis C vaccine development has faced significant challenges.
Conclusions:
- Vaccination is a critical tool for controlling viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B, and its associated liver cancer.
- Vaccination strategies must be tailored to the endemicity patterns of HAV.
- Continued research and development are essential for combating all forms of viral hepatitis.
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