Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that affects the liver. Adults who get hepatitis B usually recover. However most infants infected at birth become chronic carriers i.e. they carry the virus for many years and can spread the infection to others. In 2000, there were an estimated 5.7 million cases of acute hepatitis B infection and more than 521 000 deaths from hepatitis B-related disease.

• Vaccine Utilization
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Global situation

In 1992, the World Health Assembly passed resolution 45.17 that called for member states, "…to integrate cost-effective new vaccines, such as hepatitis B vaccine, into national immunization programmes in countries where it is feasible…" The same year, WHO set a goal for all countries to integrate hepatitis B vaccination into EPI by 1997. Unfortunately this goal was not met. Following the creation of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) specific support was made available to the less developed member states and the GAVI partners set new milestones to reach its immunization goals. One milestone calls for hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) to be introduced in all countries with adequate delivery systems by 2007. A more general milestone is that by 2010 or sooner all countries will have routine immunization coverage at 90% nationally with at least 80% coverage in every district.

Last updated: 24 December 2008