Are there any existing proofs that Hepatitis B vaccination of larger population groups will help to reduce the incidence of infection & liver cancer in India ?
Studies have shown that the Hepatitis B vaccine can significantly lower the carrier prevalence in a country. In China, the vaccine has lowered the percentage of chronic carriers among children from 14 percent to less than 2 percent. Routine use of the vaccine can change the endemicity from high to low (e.g. China, Gambia, Indonesia, Thailand, Alaska). In countries with low endemicity, we can expect routine immunization with Hepatitis B vaccine to essentially eliminate Hepatitis B Virus infection. A reduction in incidence of liver cancer in immunized children has also been demonstrated in Taiwan.
