Strategies to increase timely uptake of hepatitis B vaccine birth dose

摘要

WHO estimates that, in 2015, 900000 people died dueto hepatitis B virus infection,1 with most infectionsacquired at birth, and that more than 1 million childrenyounger than 5 years developed chronic hepatitis Binfection.1 Hepatitis B prevalence was high in countrieswith a low coverage of hepatitis B vaccine birth dose.1WHO recommends storage of hepatitis B vaccine ina traditional cold chain (+2°C to +8°C). However, inremote rural areas where many births occur at home,this practice could be a barrier to achieving highcoverage of birth dose vaccination.2 In addition, a 2017study3 showed that accidental freezing can occur inlow-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).Therefore, WHO recommends that vaccines shouldbe licensed for use in a controlled temperature chain(CTC), enabling vaccine products to be in ambienttemperatures for a specified duration under monitoredconditions.4 The 69th World Health Assembly set atarget to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public healththreat by 2030,5 requiring a reduction of hepatitis Bprevalence to less than 0·1% in children younger than5 years. This target can be achieved through universalimmunisation of infants and other interventions toprevent mother-to-child transmission against hepatitisB virus.