Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals
The Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals department is responsible for targeting vaccine-preventable diseases, guiding immunization research and establishing immunization policy.
Vaccines for Hepatitis A, B, and E
Hepatitis A
Several hepatitis vaccines are available internationally. Both inactivated and live attenuated hepatitis A vaccines are highly immunogenic and immunization will generate long-lasting, possibly life-long, protection against hepatitis A in children as well as in adults.
Vaccination against hepatitis A should be part of a comprehensive plan for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis, including measures to improve hygiene and sanitation and measures for outbreak control.
WHO recommends that vaccination against hepatitis A virus be integrated into the national immunization schedule for children aged 1 year or older, if indicated on the basis of local factors, including incidence of acute hepatitis A, level of endemicity, and consideration of cost-effectiveness.
The use of hepatitis A vaccine, rather than passive prophylaxis with immune globulin, is recommended for pre-exposure prophylaxis for individuals considered at increased risk, such as travellers to areas of higher hepatitis A endemicity, men who have sex with men, and people with chronic liver diseases. The vaccine can also be given as post-exposure prophylaxis to close contacts of acute cases of hepatitis A.
WHO Position Paper
WHO Position paper on Hepatitis A vaccines - English and French (Updated June 2012)Including all accompanying materials and an additional position paper on the use of fractional doses
Publications - Hepatitis A
The main purpose of the modules of the series - which are published as separate/vaccine specific modules - is to give immunization managers and vaccination...
4 September 2018
Hepatitis A: Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Standards
The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted primarily via the faecal/oral route either through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct...
Hepatitis B
Several hepatitis B vaccines are available internationally. Both monovalent and products with multiple antigens are highly immunogenic and vaccination in a series of three doses will generate long-lasting, possibly life-long, protection against hepatitis B.
Vaccination against hepatitis B should be part of a comprehensive plan for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis, including measures for blood safety.
WHO recommends that all infants should receive their first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours. The birth dose should be followed by 2 or 3 doses to complete the primary series. WHO also recommends that all health care workers receive this vaccine to prevent the risk of Hepatitis B in health care settings.
WHO Position Paper
WHO Position paper on Hepatitis B vaccines - English and French (Updated July 2017)Including all accompanying materials and an additional position paper on the use of fractional doses
Publications - Hepatitis B
1 December 2015
Preventing Perinatal Hepatitis B Virus Transmission: A Guide for Introducing Hepatitis B Birth Dose Vaccination
This document provides guidance for immunization managers and maternal child health partners seeking to introduce hepatitis B birth dose vaccination into...
This review summarizes and appraises the evidence from published and grey literature on improving coverage of the hepatitis B birth dose. Specifically,...
This document is designed to supplement the sample design, sample selection and sample size determination guidance provided by the World Health Organization...
1 November 2011
Documenting the impact of Hepatitis B immunization
This document is specifically about impact assessment through serosurveys. This may be a standalone method or as part of a broader evaluation of hepatitis...
This module is part of the WHO series The Immunological Basis for Immunization, which was initially developed in 1993 as a set of eight modules, comprising...
This field guide is primarily a management guideline for programme managers of immunization services and health workers who provide childhood immunization....
4 September 2018
Hepatitis B: Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Standards
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted by exposure of mucosal membranes or non-intact skin to infected blood or other body fluids....
News
Q & As on hepatitis b
Hepatitis: Preventing mother-to-child transmission of the hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis: How can I protect myself from hepatitis B?
Other WHO links
Hepatitis E
Currently, there are no WHO pre-qualified vaccines against hepatitis E. In 2011, the first vaccine to prevent hepatitis E infection was registered in China.
A Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization Working Group on Hepatitis E was established in October 2013 to review the existing data on the safety, immunogenicity, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of the hepatitis E vaccine. The target date for publication of the WHO position paper on hepatitis E vaccine is early 2015.
In the absence of internationally available vaccines, WHO recommends prevention of hepatitis E infection and transmission by maintaining quality standards for public water sources and proper disposal of sanitary waste, as well as maintenance of personal hygiene practice and avoiding drinking water and/or ice of unknown purity while in areas of high endemicity.
WHO Position Paper
WHO Position paper on Hepatitis E vaccines - English and French (Updated May 2015)Including all accompanying materials and an additional position paper on the use of fractional doses
Publications - Hepatitis E
25 April 2018
WHO Informal consultation on WHO recommendations to assure the quality, safety and efficacy of recombinant...
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of sporadic and epidemic hepatitis that is found worldwide, the highest sero-prevalence rates being observed in...
Q & As on hepatitis E
Hepatitis - further information