A Plea For Introduction Of Hepatitis B Vaccination At Birth In Cote D'Ivoire

The Cote d'Ivoire National Immunization Technical Advisory Group 2015 work plan included elaboration of an opinion on inclusion of hepatitis B vaccination at birth in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Cote d'Ivoire. A task force was set up to conduct this assessment according to a systematized method. The task force analysed scientific articles on the burden of hepatitis B in Cote d'Ivoire, the burden of mother-child transmission, the impact of hepatitis B vaccination at birth in countries which have adopted this strategy, the efficacy and safety of hepatitis B vaccine in newborns, the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination at birth, and the best strategy to introduce hepatitis B vaccination at birth in the EPI. The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group of Cote d'Ivoire finally recommended introduction of a dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth in the context of the Expanded Program on Immunization with maintenance of three doses of pentavalent vaccine (DPT-HepB-Hib) at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.