Hepatitis B immunisation programmes in European Union, Norway and Iceland: where we were in 2009?
In January 2009 25 European Union (EU) Member States (MSs), Norway and Iceland, participated in a survey seeking information on national hepatitis B vaccination programmes. Details of vaccination policy, schedule, population groups targeted for vaccination, programme funding, vaccine coverage and methods of monitoring of vaccine coverage were obtained. Twenty (74%) countries reported that they have a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme, in addition to immunisation of at risk groups; seven (26%) countries recommend HBV for high risk groups only (with some inter-country variation on groups considered at high risk). Among countries without universal hepatitis B vaccination programmes, the major factor for non-introduction is low disease endemicity.
Mereckiene
Jolita
J
Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland; Vaccine European New Integrated Collaboration Effort (VENICE) Project, Italy. jolita.mereckiene@hse.ie
Cotter
Suzanne
S
Lopalco
Pierluigi
P
D'Ancona
Fortunato
F
Levy-Bruhl
Daniel
D
Giambi
Cristina
C
Johansen
Kari
K
Dematte
Luca
L
Salmaso
Stefania
S
Stefanoff
Pawel
P
O'Flanagan
Darina
D
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005062:European Union / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines