Hepatitis Australia has reassured Australian parents that national recommendations on hepatitis B vaccination remain unchanged following moves by the United States (US) Administration to significantly alter its own childhood vaccination schedule as reported in The Guardian.
The US changes include removing hepatitis B vaccination from the group of vaccines routinely recommended for all children and shifting it towards recommendations based on 'individual risk' or 'shared clinical decision-making'.
Hepatitis Australia CEO Lucy Clynes said that hepatitis was a major factor in liver disease and cancer and Australians should continue to have confidence in the strong, evidence-based medical advice underpinning Australia's vaccination program.
"Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C are leading causes of liver disease and liver cancer, and without appropriate medical care, up to one in four people living with chronic hepatitis B can die from its complications.
"Vaccination remains Australia's best defence and the professional medical advice has not changed. Our infectious diseases and immunisation experts continue to strongly support hepatitis B vaccination, including vaccination at birth.
"Parents can be fully confident that the advice they receive in Australia is based on decades of medical evidence showing that the hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective and protects children against a virus that can cause serious lifelong liver disease and liver cancer.
"Hepatitis B can be transmitted during birth, through blood-to-blood contact or through some sexual fluids. Babies and young children are far more likely than adults to develop chronic hepatitis B, which is why vaccination at birth remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the disease.
"At a time when Australia is working towards eliminating hepatitis B and hepatitis C as public health threats by 2030, it is absolutely critical that we remain focused on sound medical advice and on protecting the health of our families and children."
Ms Clynes said Australia's hepatitis B vaccination program had delivered huge public health benefits.
"Routine childhood vaccination has helped drive a staggering 60 per cent reduction in hepatitis B cases among young Australians.
"The birth dose has been part of Australia's vaccination program for more than 25 years, babies tolerate it very well and Australian parents have overwhelmingly embraced vaccination as a simple and effective way of protecting their children.
"This is a public health success story we should be proud of and continue to build upon."
Hepatitis Australia President and infectious diseases physician Professor Joseph Doyle said Australia's recommendations were supported by extensive clinical evidence and remained unchanged.
"The hepatitis B vaccination is a safe and highly effective way of preventing infection and the serious liver disease that can follow.
"The birth dose is particularly important because hepatitis B can be transmitted from mother to child during birth. If a baby becomes infected with hepatitis B at or around birth, there is around a 90 per cent chance that the infection will become lifelong.
"That's why Australia recommends a four-dose childhood hepatitis B vaccination schedule beginning at birth. It provides protection at the earliest possible opportunity and is backed by strong clinical evidence accumulated over decades."
Professor Doyle said Australians should continue to follow the recommendations of Australian immunisation and infectious diseases experts.
"Vaccination has played an enormous role in reducing hepatitis B transmission in Australia and remains absolutely fundamental to our efforts to eventually eliminate hepatitis B as a public health threat.
"Our advice to parents is that Australia's recommendations have not changed. Speak to your GP, nurse or other healthcare professional and continue to follow the Australian vaccination schedule."
Consumers and health professionals seeking trusted information or support about viral hepatitis can contact HepLink on 1800 437 222 or visit heplink.au.
About us:
Hepatitis Australia is the national peak community organisation working to eliminate hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Australia. It represents eight state and territory community hepatitis organisations and advocates for the rights, health and dignity of people affected by viral hepatitis.
