• Home

Fourth Dose of Hepatitis B Vaccination being Considered

DUBAI - Health officials in the UAE are mulling over including a fourth dose of Hepatitis B vaccination for children at the age of 10.

Inclusion of the fourth vaccination (booster dose) is being considered following recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Currently, under the UAE’s compulsory and free vaccination programme, three Hepatitis B vaccinations are administered to babies — at birth, at two months and then at four months.

“The vaccination can be taken at anytime though. However, the vaccinations given at the time of birth are effective for the entire life,” Dr Asaad Dajani, hepatology consultant of Asaad Dajani Specialised Centre in Sharjah, said during a media briefing on developing treatments and international medical collaboration on Tuesday.

The UAE made Hepatitis B vaccination compulsory in 1995. Besides newborns, all health professionals attending infected patients are also required to take the vaccination.

Hepatitis B is an infectious and life-threatening disease and the most common and serious form of liver infection in the world. The virus can be transmitted through the transfer of blood or body fluids from mother to child during pregnancy or through direct contact via infected blood products, unprotected sex, and intravenous drug use with unsterilised needles.

The media briefing was also attended by Dr Alan Glombicki, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Texas and Founding President of the American Liver Foundation of Texas.

“Under-diagnosis remains a key issue facing Hepatitis B treatment and prevention,” said Dr Glombicki. Recent research from the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, suggests that cultural taboos and misunderstandings are the principal barriers blocking patients at risk of hepatitis or exposed to by family members from seeking immunisation, testing or treatment, he explained.


asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com