Health campaign spotlights hepatitis B prevention across all ages

With four years remaining until the 2030 target for eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat domestically, public health officials and clinicians gathered in Beijing to assess progress and map out next steps in hepatitis B control.

Hepatitis B remains a major public health challenge in China. An estimated 75 million people aged 1 to 69 are living with chronic HBV infection, accounting for roughly one-third of global cases. A significant proportion of those infected are unaware of their status. The virus is highly contagious, and chronic infection can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Since the introduction of universal free infant vaccination in 2005, coverage rates have climbed to 99.6% for the three-dose series and 95.6% for the timely birth dose—well above the global average of 85%. As a result, the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among children under five has dropped to 0.30%, down from much higher levels in the 1990s. Among the broader population aged 1 to 69, the prevalence now stands at 5.86%.

These achievements do not mark the finish line. In September 2025, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and eight other government departments jointly issued an action plan for

As part of the 2025–2030 action plan for addressing the disease, efforts to maintain high childhood vaccination rates while expanding adult immunization coverage are in full swing.

Yao Fengli, deputy chief pediatrician at the Fifth Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital, said that infants infected with HBV face a 90% risk of developing chronic infection, with long-term risks of cirrhosis and liver cancer. She urged that newborns should receive their first vaccine dose promptly after birth, followed by doses at one month and six months of age.

As children enter preschool and school settings, group activities and close contact increase the risk of horizontal transmission. Parents should monitor their children's antibody levels and consult healthcare providers about screening and booster doses when necessary.

Lyv Sa, senior physician at the Fifth Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital’s liver disease department, said that HBV is not transmitted through everyday contact such as handshakes, hugging, shared meals, or attending classes together. She called for reducing stigma and encouraging family members of those infected to know their immune status and take appropriate preventive measures.

Zhang Ying, chief physician at the Tianjin CDC, said that grassroots health centers play a critical role in delivering health education, on-site screening, vaccination reminders, and standardized follow-up care.