Universal Immunization Programme

New Delhi, Dec 13, 2014: A study was conducted among 5-11 year old children in Andhra Pradesh which revealed that the antibodies to Hepatitis B surface antigen were positive in 53% of children immunized against Hepatitis B vaccine. It further revealed that 18% of unimmunized (for Hepatitis B) children were also positive for antibodies to Hepatitis B surface antigen.

The study was conducted in 2010-11 in the state of Andhra Pradesh by the Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow and National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, in selected children who had received three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine in 2003 or 2004 i.e. after 6-7 years of vaccination of these children.

The study indicated that “inclusion of Hepatitis B vaccine in universal childhood immunization program of India has led to an increase in immunity against Hepatitis B and protection against Hepatitis B virus infection.”

The study concludes that Hepatitis B immunization effectively reduces the rate of Hepatitis B viral infection and justifies the decision to include Hepatitis B vaccine in the Universal Immunization Programme.

The study report does not give any information on the lower efficacy of Hepatitis-B vaccine when given mixed with other vaccines as compared to stand-alone Hepatitis-B vaccine.

The MoS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, ShriShripadYessoNaikstated this in a written reply in the LokSabha here today.CCI Newswire