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Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination Applauds Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for Beginning Support of Hepatitis B vaccination of newborns in Africa

Atlanta — The Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE) commends Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for its recent decision to lift the pause on support for hepatitis B birth dose vaccine in Africa.

In 2020, due to the demands of COVID-19 pandemic, Gavi paused an intended effort to support implementation of vaccination of newborns in the first day of life with a “birth dose” of hepatitis B vaccine. The Gavi board announced on Wednesday that it would begin support of hepatitis B birth dose. A recent CGHE survey showed Gavi support for HepB birth dose was a critical decision factor for many countries to begin vaccination of their newborns to prevent hepatitis B and premature death from liver failure and liver cancer in later life.

Dr. John Ward, Director of CGHE, stated the Gavi support will overcome a major barrier to the start of a healthy life for future generations in Africa. “Gavi’s support is critical to eliminating hepatitis B as a health threat for Africa’s children. Currently, in the absence of vaccination to prevent mother to child transmission, the children of Africa bear the brunt of this infection and premature death from liver cancer and liver failure caused by this virus. Gavi support must begin immediately for countries to launch and then scale up protection of newborns with hepatitis B vaccine. If we act swiftly, with the Gavi support now available, the goals of eliminating hepatitis B among Africa’s children and averting 500,000 deaths from liver disease is within reach. With our experience in hepatitis B vaccination, the Coalition stands ready to assist countries to introduce and scale up HepB vaccination of newborns, protecting future generations from the devastating consequences of this highly infectious disease.”

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects over 300 million people worldwide, with an estimated 780,000 deaths annually due to liver cancer and liver failure. The hepatitis B birth dose vaccine is a critical intervention in the prevention of hepatitis B transmission from mother to child, a major contributor to the global burden of this debilitating disease. Children infected with HBV during birth have a 90% risk of developing chronic HBV infection, and they carry into adulthood a one in four risk of premature death from HBV-related liver disease, including liver cancer. However, only one in five newborns receive the birth dose vaccine in Africa. Only 14 of 47 countries in the African region have introduced the HepB-BD vaccine into their immunization programs. By beginning support for this vaccine, Gavi has provided welcomed capacity to eliminate Hepatitis B among children by 2030.

CGHE thanks all partners in the hepatitis community for their advocacy for Gavi support for HepB birth dose vaccination. CGHE acknowledges Gavi staff and Executive Board for reviewing available data and making an informed decision that will have far-reaching implications for the health and well-being of vulnerable children around the world.

The Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, a program of the Task Force for Global Health, is a nonprofit bringing together global partners to achieve worldwide elimination of viral hepatitis. The Coalition supports local capacity by expanding the necessary knowledge base, providing technical assistance, and mobilizing commitment to achieve elimination goals. For more information, visit www.globalhep.org.

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