GLOBAL STATUS OF HB IMMUNIZATION, 1998

In 1991 WHO recommended that all countries include HB vaccine into the ir routine childhood immunization programmes, By 1998, more than 90 co untries have included HE vaccine as routine antigen in their national programmes. These countries include about half of the world's children and about 70% of the world's carriers, The WHO target is to prevent 8 0 % of new HBV carriers in children by the year 2001 by adding the vac cine into routine immunization, The vaccine has proven to be 85% to 95 % effective in preventing the chronic carrier state in population base d studies from many countries, Studies in Taiwan have already shown a direct reduction of liver cancer in immunized children, The major rema ining problem is to develop financial mechanisms to allow the children in the poorest countries to benefit from this important vaccine.