Introduction of hepatitis B vaccine into childhood immunization services

Overview

This field guide is primarily a management guideline for programme managers of immunization services and health workers who provide childhood immunization. The guideline provides a broad outline of the epidemiology of hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection and the global burden of disease. It outlines various immunization strategies a country may adopt to prevent HBV transmission. Apart from providing details of the vaccine and its formulation, the guideline also deals with the various management decisions that a programme manager must take in the introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine. Operational components such as vaccine procurement, cold chain needs, wastage reduction, immunization safety, etc., are dealt in great detail in the guideline. Finally, as an annex, the guideline provides additional information for both the health worker as well as the parents on hepatitis B and hepatitis B vaccine.