title: Hepatitis B vaccine.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a health problem that affects numerous infants and children in the United States. Approximately 4000 to 6000 new infections occur each year in children and adolescents; most often they become infected without obvious clinical manifestations. Some persons become chronically infected, and this asymptomatic chronically infected population serves as a reservoir for HBV. Immunization of all newborn infants and adolescents for HBV is a vital step toward eradicating HBV from the general population. Pediatric nurse practitioners are in a strategic position to provide education and the carry out immunization efforts that will dramatically decrease the morbidity associated with HBV.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass., USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aruda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D009017:Morbidity; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines