Children who are not vaccinated against hepatitis B are at high risk of cirrhosis

If not vaccinated, more than 60,000 babies born to mothers with hepatitis B will have chronic hepatitis.

According to the World Health Organization, viral hepatitis is one of the diseases known as the silent killer, causing the deaths of millions of people around the world. In Vietnam, this is also a major public health issue. It is estimated that our country has about 8.7 million people with hepatitis B and one million people with hepatitis C, nearly 40 times the number of people infected with HIV.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection ranges from 6-20% depending on the region, especially high in remote areas. Similarly, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection ranges from 0.4 to 4%; In high-risk groups such as drug addiction, homosexuality can be up to 60%. Therefore, the burden of disease in Vietnam is very large, every year thousands of people die from these two diseases.

Children are vaccinated with newborn nasal hepatitis B vaccine.(Photo: NP).

Meanwhile, hepatitis B can be completely prevented with high efficacy by vaccination. It is estimated that each year our country has about 1.6 million pregnant women, 10% of them have hepatitis B (positive HBsAg). Experts estimate that if not vaccinated, more than 60,000 babies will be born with chronic hepatitis - accounting for about 38% of children. Of these, 25% will be able to develop cirrhosis and liver cancer. This is a very alarming number.

The Ministry of Health has implemented many measures, but because parents are concerned about their children, the rate of vaccination of newborn nasal hepatitis B is not as expected. The highest region is only 65%, the national average is 60% while the requirement is 70%. A large proportion of children are not vaccinated within the first 24 hours, Deputy Minister Long said.

Meanwhile, if prophylactic injection is given within the first 24 hours, 90% of babies will not be infected with hepatitis B, if this injection is effective within 7 days, it will be only 50%.

In addition, 90% of people with hepatitis B virus do not know they are infected, 80% do not know hepatitis C. Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of Medical Services Management, Ministry of Health stressed, viral hepatitis B can be actively prevented by vaccines and have therapeutic drugs that slow the progression to cirrhosis, reduce the incidence of liver cancer and improve the long-term survival rate. Meanwhile, although hepatitis C has no preventive vaccine, the treatment has made remarkable progress, over 90% of people with hepatitis C are cured within 3-6 months. However, access to these new drugs is still difficult for many people with hepatitis C due to the high treatment costs.

On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, the Ministry of Health calls on every Vietnamese citizen to protect himself and his family from viral hepatitis, ensuring that their offspring do not suffer from hepatitis B by sending them to vaccination. liver B full, on schedule. Besides, it is necessary to actively test for hepatitis virus to be treated early. Physicians ensure that patients are provided with safe services; avoid infection during medical examination and treatment.

The World Health Organization recommends "Excluding hepatitis: prevent infection; testing; safe injection and treatment".