I am trying to understand the two-dose Hep B vaccination for children. It appears that in the UK, while not part of standard NHS care, the two-dose schedule is approved for those aged 1 and older (cf. the "green book"). In the US the CDC only approves the two-dose schedule for children 11 and over. What evidence are these decisions based on?
Asked
Active
Viewed 48 times
1 Answers
2
The NHS only advises Hepatitis B vaccination to young children when they are at a high risk of exposure. This means when the mother is infected and contagious, or there are close relatives with the disease. Otherwise vaccination is optional.
The CDC recommends hepatitis B vaccination at birth, changing from the policy of vaccinating those at risk.
The WHO also recommends vaccination from birth so the different stance taken by the NHS may be political or economic..

Graham Chiu
- 13,257
- 1
- 21
- 64
-
1I understand that, I was asking about the two-dose schedule and why only the UK approves it for young children. – StrongBad Apr 19 '16 at 01:19
-
Cost benefit analyses, and politicians have stopped it so far. But it's been looked at to bring the UK in line with other countries. http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/immunisation/government-advisors-consider-hep-b-jab-for-infant-schedule/20007341.fullarticle – Graham Chiu Apr 19 '16 at 01:39
-
2I'm also not sure how this fully answers the question - which is essentially about why the two-dose schedule is only approved for children 11 years and older by the CDC, as I understand it. If this has changed, maybe you could make this clearer in your second paragraph? – YviDe Apr 20 '16 at 15:08