Hepatitis B prevalence in pregnant women in China: Progress and realities.

Abstract

To combat the burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the Chinese government introduced national HBV vaccination in 1992. Childhood HBV vaccination was integrated into routine childhood immunisation, but initially the costs were met by parents; later, an alliance with GAVI in 2002, and subsequently the Chinese government, provisioned free three-dose hepatitis B vaccine to all new-borns [1]. Vaccination is guided by the National Immunization Schedule, and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine (the birth dose) is administered within 24 hours of birth [2].