[Vaccination against hepatitis B. Many more advantages than disadvantages]

Hepatitis B remains a serious public health problem. Vaccination limited to high risk groups has not induced a significant decrease in the incidence of the disease and universal vaccination appears to be the only means to eradicate the virus. Like for all vaccines, some side effects have been reported. In particular a few cases of multiple sclerosis have been observed after vaccination. Epidemiological data do not show a higher incidence of multiple sclerosis in vaccinated persons when compared to the general population. Although a causal relationship between vaccination and multiple sclerosis cannot be established on epidemiological grounds, it is reasonable to avoid vaccination in patients with this disease or a familial antecedent of multiple sclerosis. The present universal vaccination strategy aimed at protecting all the population against hepatitis B should not be modified.