Should hepatitis B vaccine be used for infants?

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection causes nearly all the deaths from this virus. As the initial infection occurs without symptoms and decades prior to the onset of cirrhosis and liver cancer, these consequences are rarely recognized as being caused by the virus. Consequently, its public health importance is under-recognized. Safe and effective vaccines have now been available for over 20 years. Concerns have been raised regarding the mercury preservative in vaccines leading to potential toxicity. But the evidence to date does not support any association of hepatitis B vaccine with serious adverse consequences. Protecting infants through immunization is the most effective control strategy. By 2005, over 80% of countries had implemented routine infant immunization. In countries with relatively low rates of hepatitis B virus infection, some have argued to defer immunization until later life. However, these arguments focus on the more visible acute infection. The possible future cost from a single infant infection argues for universal infant hepatitis B immunization – given the very high costs of treating its consequences (e.g., liver transplant) and the very low price of the vaccine.

Keywords::

• anticancer vaccine
• hepatitis B vaccine
• infant immunization
• thimerosal

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Jeff McFarland and three anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on an earlier draft, and Maryanne Neill and Marta Gacicdobo for Figure 1.