On World Hepatitis Day, think again about lifelong prevention

Stringent investigations found that the Hepatitis B vaccine was not the cause of the infant deaths, and the suspension of the vaccine was soon lifted. But as a result of this incident, surveys showed that 25% of Chinese parents were reluctant to let their children receive the Hepatitis B vaccination, even though the vaccine is free and safe.

Confidence, built on years of success, can be a very fragile thing. The hepatitis B incident shows just how easily it can be shattered – which puts lives at risk.

Fortunately, after the investigation, confidence in the vaccine has increased again. This is very good, because the program is responsible for the reduction in the prevalence of Hepatitis B to less than 1% among children under five years old, down from more than 9% in the pre-vaccine era. To ensure the continued safety of Hepatitis B and other vaccines, the Chinese government enforces strict regulation ofall vaccine production.

The challenge is now to reach all those newborns who are currently being missed. This requires a careful analysis of any barriers that may arise. These include the challenges of gaining access to people living in remote areas, the availability of vaccine and single-use syringes, and the need to reduce any financial burdens that may prevent people from having their children vaccinated.

On World Hepatitis Day 2014, we must think again about the importance of lifelong protection against one of the largest health threats to children born in China today. The truth is that the HepatitisB vaccine program is one of our greatest public health achievements – and taking advantage of it is one of the most important things a parent can do to safeguard the health of their children.

Dr Bernhard Schwartl?nder is the WHO Representative in China