4 VIEWS & REVIEWS Better hepatitis B vaccine coverage needed in the US The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Southeast Asian children in the US approaches that of countries with high endemicity of HBV infection. and efforts to prevent HBV infection should be intensified. according to US researchers. They conducted serological testing before and after the implementation of a vaccination programme in 1991 involving 96% of individua1s from 225 randomly selected households in a Southeast Asian community in Louisiana. Of 676 US-born children tested, 16% had evidence of past HBV infection and 4% had chronic HBV infection. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection increased with age, reflecting recent efforts to prevent perinatal HBV transmission. Coverage surveys showed that a course of 3 doses of HBV vaccine had been completed by only 1 of 593 susceptible children S; 10 years of age before the survey, and by only 43% of Southeast Asian infants aged 9-18 months by July 1993. Comprehensive vaccination programmes are essential, and coverage surveys should be performed for children who are at high risk for early childhood HBV infection in order to ensure that over 95% of newborns receive 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine in the first 12 months of life, conclude the researchers. Mahoney Fl. LaWJCllCe M. Soou C. I.e Q.l.amben S, et al. Cootilluing riok fur hepatitis B virus uaosmi.ssion aD10IIg soutbeast Asian infaDlS in Louisiana. I'IIdiatrics 96: 1113-1116. Dec 1995 _ .. Editorial comment: According to an article in the lAncet [346: 1548, Dec 919951, the 'US Vaccinesfor Children' programme for the provision of vaccines for medically uru:Jerinsured and uninsured children may be abandoned. Under the new congressional plan, fewer children will be entitled to discounted immunisation, and drug companies will not be forced to provide discounrsfor children for whom price is not a barrier. 0 15&-270319511 0 I7..QOO41S01 .00" Ad .. lnlemelional Umlteclln5. An rlghta r-...d

Better hepatitis B vaccine coverage needed in the US

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4 VIEWS & REVIEWS

Better hepatitis B vaccine coverage needed in the US

The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Southeast Asian children in the US approaches that of countries with high endemicity of HBV infection. and efforts to prevent HBV infection should be intensified. according to US researchers.

They conducted serological testing before and after the implementation of a vaccination programme in 1991 involving 96% of individua1s from 225 randomly selected households in a Southeast Asian community in Louisiana. Of 676 US-born children tested, 16% had evidence of past HBV infection and 4% had chronic HBV infection. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection increased with age, reflecting recent efforts to prevent perinatal HBV transmission.

Coverage surveys showed that a course of 3 doses of HBV vaccine had been completed by only 1 of 593 susceptible children S; 10 years of age before the survey, and by only 43% of Southeast Asian infants aged 9-18 months by July 1993.

Comprehensive vaccination programmes are essential, and coverage surveys should be performed for children who are at high risk for early childhood HBV infection in order to ensure that over 95% of newborns receive 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine in the first 12 months of life, conclude the researchers.

Mahoney Fl. LaWJCllCe M. Soou C. I.e Q.l.amben S, et al. Cootilluing riok fur hepatitis B virus uaosmi.ssion aD10IIg soutbeast Asian infaDlS in Louisiana. I'IIdiatrics 96: 1113-1116. Dec 1995 _

.. Editorial comment: According to an article in the lAncet [346: 1548, Dec 919951, the 'US Vaccinesfor Children' programme for the provision of vaccines for medically uru:Jerinsured and uninsured children may be abandoned. Under the new congressional plan, fewer children will be entitled to discounted immunisation, and drug companies will not be forced to provide discounrsfor children for whom price is not a barrier.

015&-2703195110 I7..QOO41S01 .00" Ad .. lnlemelional Umlteclln5. An rlghta r-...d