And they warn the evidence is unequivocal – early hepatitis B vaccination saves lives.
Australian health leaders have moved to shut down any confusion after a US advisory panel proposed scrapping routine hepatitis B vaccination for newborns.
And they have urged clinicians and parents to stay the course on a program that has sharply reduced infection rates in Australia and prevented thousands of cases of chronic disease.
Infectious diseases expert Professor Jane Davies, chair of Hepatitis Australia’s Research and Clinical Advisory Group, warned that the stakes were high.
“Without vaccination, babies who are exposed to the virus have around a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B,” Professor Davies said.
“Chronic infection can lead to liver scarring, liver cancer and serious lifelong illness. Early vaccination offers powerful protection against these outcomes.
“93% of Australian one-year-olds are currently vaccinated against hepatitis B. Since the introduction of routine childhood vaccinations, hepatitis B cases among young people have dropped by 60%.
“Communities are better protected, and Australia is making good progress toward the long-term goal of eliminating hepatitis B transmission.”
The US Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted last week to drop the “universal birth dose” recommendation which meant all newborns received a hepatitis B shot within 24 hours of birth.
Under the new guidance, only infants whose mothers test positive (or whose maternal hepatitis B status is unknown) are still recommended to get the vaccine immediately after birth. For babies born to mothers who test negative, vaccination becomes a matter of shared decision making between parents and doctors.
US experts have stressed that the vaccine remains available in the US and is covered by insurance but fear it will result in mass confusion.
The move also puts the US in the minority at a global level. According to the WHO, about 116 of 194 member states still recommend a universal birth dose for hepatitis B.
In a joint statement released today, Hepatitis Australia and ASHM (formerly the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine) said there was no change to Australia’s recommendations and called on health professionals to reinforce the critical role of the birth dose vaccine.
Since routine childhood vaccination began, hepatitis B rates among young Australians have fallen by 60%.
Hepatitis Australia CEO Lucy Clynes said the national program’s safety and effectiveness was indisputable, with more than 40 years of global data supporting its use.
“Australia’s hepatitis B vaccination program is safe, effective and has been proven to save lives,” she said.
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“The birth dose remains an essential part of protecting babies from a virus that can quietly cause lifelong liver damage and even fatal liver cancer.
“Parents should know that there is no suggestion of any change to Australian recommendations. The evidence supporting birth dose vaccination is overwhelming and continues to be endorsed by Australia’s foremost medical experts.
“Babies tolerate the birth dose very well, with only mild and short-lasting side effects reported in a small number of cases. Protection begins immediately and lasts well into adolescence and adulthood.
“The birth dose has been recommended since 2000 and is provided free as part of the National Immunisation Program. Australia recommends four doses before six months of age, beginning within 24 hours of birth when the infant is medically stable.”
ASHM CEO Alexis Apostolellis said the hepatitis B vaccination program remained a public health success story that should give parents full confidence.
“We know childhood hepatitis B vaccination works. The decline in hepatitis B among Australians aged under twenty is a direct result of sustained and evidence-based public health policy,” he said.
“Parents deserve clarity. The evidence supporting the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine is extremely strong.
“It is supported by Australia’s foremost medical specialists and international health authorities. It remains one of the most effective tools we have to prevent babies from developing chronic hepatitis B.”
