Immunization and the hepatitis B virus: A view from the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Hepatology Committee

Résumé fourni par la source

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global health challenge, with more than 250 million people chronically infected worldwide and >2000 daily deaths from HBV-related disease. Early-life acquisition is the primary driver of chronic infection; up to 90% of infants infected perinatally progress to chronic HBV infection compared with markedly lower rates in older children and adults. Universal infant immunization, including the birth-dose, has been central to global elimination, resulting in a substantial reduction in chronic HBV infection, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent statements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention question the evidence-base for early-life vaccination and recommend deferring HBV immunization until later in childhood. These claims reflect misconceptions about HBV epidemiology and reference a perceived association between infant vaccination and autism. This communication summarizes evidence demonstrating the risks of early-life HBV transmission leading to chronic infection. We argue that delaying or foregoing immunization would leave infants at unnecessary risk. We reference two decades of research in which large-scale studies have not identified an association between vaccination, including HBV vaccination, and autism.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.