Hepatitis B--another vaccine success story.(Immunizations)

Hepatitis is an infection of the liver, usually caused by viruses, that can range from a mild condition to something that is life-threatening. Hepatitis B is one form of hepatitis that is of particular concern, because the virus that causes it can remain in the body, causing ongoing liver damage. For this reason, in 1991, a vaccine to protect against hepatitis B began to be given to babies as part of the routine schedule of childhood vaccination; in 1995 it was recommended that the vaccine also be given routinely to 11-12 year olds, and in 1999 it was recommended that hepatitis B vaccine be given to all children under the age of 18 years who may not have received it previously.

Now, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that since the vaccination policy was put in place over 13 years ago, there has been a steady decrease in the number of cases of hepatitis B among children and adolescents in the U.S. In fact, between 1991 and 2002, the number of cases dropped by 89%, and this was true among children and adolescents of all races and ages. Investigations revealed that a ...