Paving the way towards hepatitis B virus-free generations in Africa

Abstract

The children of Africa are in desperate need of protection from hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Globally, two-thirds of the estimated 1·5 million new cases of chronic HBV infection occurred in Africa in 2019.1 Most of these new infections in Africa are among young children, particularly newborn babies. Of children infected at birth, 90% remain infected with a 25% risk of premature death from HBV-related liver disease, including liver cancer. Despite this risk, less than 10% of newborn babies in Africa receive a timely HBV birth-dose vaccine (ie, within 24 h of birth).