Identifying immunization strategy for preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

In 2016, the World Health Assembly endorsed the Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis, with aim to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, which may reduce the number of new cases of chronic hepatitis B by 90% (0.1% HBsAg prevalence among children) and mortality rate by 65%. In order to achieve this goal, blocking mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is of paramount importance, especially in underdeveloped areas with high prevalence of HBV. In this paper, we discussed the status of chronic HBV infection and its serological and virological characteristics in women of childbearing age in China as well as the optimal dose of immunoglobulin in the combined passive-active immunoprophylaxis in infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers. In addition, the strategies for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HBV in terms of post-immunization testing, increased-dose vaccination (certainty/uncertainty) and follow-up of these infants.