title: Origins, design and implementation of the China GAVI project.
abstract: China received GAVI support for hepatitis B vaccination in 2001 because of high disease burden and strong government will to protect infants at risk. The China/GAVI project, implemented since 2002, was funded 50% by GAVI and 50% by the Government of China. The purpose of the project was to increase coverage of hepatitis B vaccine through a pro-poor approach targeting all counties of the 12 Western provinces and poverty counties of the 10 Central provinces, to accelerate integration of hepatitis B vaccine into routine immunization, and assure immunization injection safety. The mechanism of internal coordination among multiple government entities and international cooperation was established and comprehensive strategies were used to improve vaccine coverage and injection safety. After 8 years of implementation, 193,000 health care workers in 118,316 health care facilities participated in the project, mostly at the township hospitals level (55,051) and in community centres (104,547). Through the China GAVI project, the 85% HepB3 coverage goal was reached in 98% of GAVI China project counties, the 75% timely birth dose (TBD) coverage goal was reached in 80% of GAVI project counties, and AD syringes were introduced into 100% of GAVI-supported areas. Additionally, the GAVI project was instrumental in convincing the Chinese Government to sustainably introduce and fully fund HepB vaccine for all newborns in China. The impact of hepB vaccination on HBsAg prevalence was observed throughout China, as HBsAg prevalence (previously ~10%) is now less than 1% among children under 5 years of age.
authors: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors: Xiaofeng
authors: X
authors: Liang
authors: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors: Fuqiang
authors: F
authors: Cui
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Hadler
authors: Western Pacific Region Office of WHO, Manila, Philippines.
authors: Xiaojun
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors: Huiming
authors: H
authors: Luo
authors: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors: Yuansheng
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Consultant on Immunization Policy, Mercer Island, WA, United States.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Kane
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Shapiro
authors: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors: Weizhong
authors: W
authors: Yang
authors: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China. Electronic address: Wangyu@chinacdc.cn.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Hepatitis B; Project; Vaccine