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Preventing hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma in South Africa: The case for a birth-dose vaccine
Abstract
Hepatitis B is a global public health issue, with some 2 billion people having current or past infection. In Africa, 65 million are chronically infected, an estimated 2.5 million of them in South Africa (SA). Hepatitis B and the associated complications of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are entirely vaccine preventable. SA was one of the first ten countries in Africa to introduce universal hepatitis B vaccination in April 1995, but has no birth dose or catch-up programme. Although universal infant vaccination in SA has been successful in increasing population immunity to hepatitis B, improvements in terms of implementing protocols to screen all pregnant mothers for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and ensuring full hepatitis B coverage, especially in rural areas, is justified. The World Health Organization has recommended a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine in addition to the existing hepatitis B vaccine schedule in order to further decrease the risk of perinatal transmission. We recommend that SA implement a birth-dose vaccine into the existing schedule to attenuate the risk of perinatal transmission, prevent breakthrough infections and decrease HBsAg carriage in babies born to HIV-positive mothers.
Authors' affiliations
C W N Spearman, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Mark W Sonderup, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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Article History
Date published: 2014-07-25
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