Evolving Screening and Vaccination Recommendations for Hepatitis B in the USA

AbstractPurpose of ReviewScreening for hepatitis B viral infection in the USA is currently recommended for high-risk individuals and pregnant persons. Effective vaccines for hepatitis B have been available since the early 1980s, and have been recommended as part of the universal childhood immunization series since the 1990s.Recent FindingsVaccination rates remain low among the general population of persons who were not vaccinated in childhood or adolescence; despite efforts to increase adult vaccination rates, persons at highest risk of exposure —for example, injection drug users—may also be among those with low access to health care.SummaryAlthough there is limited data to support universal screening for hepatitis B, newer vaccine regimens with fewer doses may address some challenges to improving rates of vaccination among US adults with and without risk factors for infection. The following review summarizes evolving recommendations for hepatitis B screening and vaccination in the USA.
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research