Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

May 31, 2002

"Beijing Heeds Red Flags of Disease"

Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (05/30/02) P. A10; Chang, Leslie

In China, the government is planning to launch a wide-ranging program to vaccinate China's poorest citizens against hepatitis B.  The move marks a complete turnaround from the Chinese government's decade-long attempts to get people to shoulder more of their health-care costs, and it reflects the economic and physical ruin the disease imposes on individuals and families in China.  Over 50 percent of the country's population, some 700 million people altogether, have suffered from the disease at some stage.  Of these, approximately 120 million are long-term carriers of hepatitis B who can pass the disease on to others, and who can often survive for many years, incurring ruinous medical bills.  The proposed $76 million vaccination program will provide the vaccine to all newborn babies in 12 provinces and also in a number of poor counties elsewhere in the country. Altogether, 35 million infants are expected to be vaccinated against hepatitis B over the next five years, with the costs of the campaign being shared equally by the Chinese government and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, a group of international health organizations supported by Bill Gates' philanthropic foundation.

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.