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.