Taiwan Continues Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination for Newborns

Taiwan will maintain its universal hepatitis B vaccination program for newborns, despite recent recommendations from the United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to limit the vaccine’s administration. The decision, announced by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on March 15, 2024, reflects the differing prevalence of hepatitis B across countries.

The ACIP’s recent vote overturned a long-standing guideline, suggesting that hepatitis B vaccinations should only be given to infants born to mothers who are either positive for the virus or whose status is unknown. The committee recommended that parents of infants born to negative mothers make individual decisions regarding the vaccine, with the first dose not to be given before the age of two months.

Lin Min-cheng, a spokesperson for the CDC, stated that Taiwan would not adopt the US guidelines. This decision was based on consultations with members of Taiwan’s own ACIP, which concluded that a universal vaccination policy is still necessary due to the historical prevalence of hepatitis B in the region.

Taiwan implemented its universal hepatitis B vaccination policy in July 1986 in response to high transmission rates, particularly from mother to child. The vaccination schedule was revised in November 1992 to include three doses administered at “zero, one, and six months” after birth. Since May 2011, the first dose has been recommended within 24 hours of birth.

The effectiveness of Taiwan’s vaccination program is evident in the statistics. As of last year, the first-dose coverage rate for infants reached 93.1 percent, while the second and third doses had impressive coverage rates of 98.9 percent and 97.7 percent, respectively. The slight reduction in the first-dose coverage can be attributed to newborns requiring emergency treatment or being born with low birth weight, which delays vaccination until they are stable.

Thanks to these efforts, the hepatitis B carrier rate among children has dramatically decreased to less than 0.8 percent, a significant reduction from the pre-vaccination rate of 10.5 percent. Lin emphasized that the prevalence of hepatitis B remains high among individuals born before the universal vaccination policy and that the disease poses a significant burden, including risks for liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

In summary, Taiwan’s CDC reaffirmed its commitment to universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, prioritizing public health and reflecting local epidemiological data. The ongoing efforts to combat hepatitis B in Taiwan highlight the importance of tailored health policies based on specific regional needs.