title: Hepatitis B immunisation programmes in European Union, Norway and Iceland: where we were in 2009?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland; Vaccine European New Integrated Collaboration Effort (VENICE) Project, Italy. jolita.mereckiene@hse.ie
authors.forename: Jolita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mereckiene
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lopalco
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Ancona
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levy-Bruhl
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giambi
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dematte
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salmaso
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stefanoff
authors.forename: Darina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Flanagan
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines