Cuba Advances in Pediatric Hepatitis B Control

Cuba excels in the control and possible elimination of Hepatitis B in pediatric populations. This result is due to the use of the domestically produced Heberbiovac HB vaccine.

Which has demonstrated high immunogenicity and efficacy, according to the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) on its social media account X.

Since 1999, no cases of acute hepatitis B have been reported on the island in children under five years of age. Since 2006, no cases have been recorded in children under 15 years of age. These data are a direct result of systematic vaccination from birth.

The disease, with a high global prevalence, causes approximately 1.1 million deaths annually. These fatalities occur mainly from cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Globally, only 46 percent of the population is vaccinated. The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to achieve 90 percent vaccination by 2030 to eliminate the disease.

The regions most affected by Hepatitis B are the Western Pacific, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

With information from Cuban News Agency

Translated by Aliani Rojas Fernandez