title: -Vaccination against hepatitis B-.
abstract: Although relatively uncommon among French children, hepatitis B virus infection is a major problem of public health which deserves coordinated strategies of prevention and immunization, in order to eliminate chronic carriers among groups at risk. The participation of pediatricians to these strategies is essential, knowing that transmission of hepatitis B virus from asymptomatic carrier mothers to their newborns contributes to new generation of chronic carriers who will be exposed to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Four hepatitis B vaccine are presently available in France with equal good efficiency and tolerance. These vaccines allow a protection against hepatitis B in 90 to 95% of the vaccinated subjects. Active search for new vaccines, particularly DNA vaccines, is in progress to extend the protection to the 5-10% non or low responders. The current recommended strategy of immunization in France associates immunizations of infants, preadolescents and groups at risk. In addition newborns from carrier mothers must receive combined passive and active immunization at birth.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination