title: Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Impact of Vaccination on Disease.
abstract: Integration of hepatitis B vaccination into national immunization programs has resulted in substantial reductions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in previously high endemic countries. The key strategy for control of the HBV epidemic is birth dose and infant vaccination. Additional measures include use of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and diagnosis of mothers at high risk of transmitting HBV and use of antiviral agents during pregnancy to decrease maternal DNA concentrations to undetectable concentrations. Despite the substantial decrease in HBV cases since vaccination introduction, implementation of birth dose vaccination in low-income and middle-income countries and vaccination of high-risk adults remain challenging.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Interventions Team, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-G37, Atlanta, GA 30329-4018, USA. Electronic address: nnelson@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Noele P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Global Hepatitis Programme, HIV Department, World Health Organization, 20 Via Appia, Geneva 1211, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philippa J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Easterbrook
authors.affiliation: Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Medical Center, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, 4315 Diplomacy Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D014943:Global Health; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Birth dose; Hepatitis B vaccine; Hepatitis B virus; Perinatal transmission; Vaccine impact