Cost-effectiveness of nationwide hepatitis B catch-up vaccination among children and adolescents in China.

ABSTRACT:

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Liver disease and liver cancer associated with childhood-acquired chronic hepatitis B are leading causes of death among adults in China. Despite expanded newborn hepatitis B vaccination programs, approximately 20% of children under age 5 years and 40% of children aged 5 to 19 years remain unprotected from hepatitis B. Although immunizing them will be beneficial, no studies have examined the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis B catch-up vaccination in an endemic country like China. We examined the cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical nationwide free hepatitis B catch-up vaccination program in China for unvaccinated children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 years. We used a Markov model for disease progression and infections. Cost variables were based on data published by the Chi

SUBMITTER: Hutton DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3245734 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature