THE French health ministry is halting its programme of immunising adolescents
against hepatitis B following a scare that the vaccine could cause multiple
sclerosis (MS). But the WHO says the move sets a dangerous precedent, as there
is no scientific evidence of any health risk. It could also jeopardise global
efforts to contain the deadly liver disease.
French health minister Bernard Kouchner has announced that the schools
vaccination programme, aimed at 11 and 12-year-olds who weren鈥檛 vaccinated as
infants, will cease this month. The move follows articles in Le Monde and other
publications questioning the vaccine鈥檚 safety and claims by pressure groups
linking the vaccine to MS and other neurological disorders in adolescents.
鈥淭he public鈥檚 concerns about this are very strong,鈥� says Marianne Durand, a
spokeswoman for the health ministry. 鈥淚t鈥檚 possible the programme will restart
in a year or two after more research.鈥� In the meantime, the vaccination of
babies and high-risk groups such as medical staff and gay men will continue.
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The WHO鈥檚 chief medical officer for viral diseases, Daniel Lavanchy, told New
快猫短视频: 鈥淲hen a country like France takes such a major step, other countries
will start to ask questions. It鈥檚 one of the safest and most effective vaccines
we have. We would like to see universal vaccination in every country, so this is
very unhelpful.鈥�
The WHO estimates that there are 350 million people in the world who are
chronically infected with the virus. More than a million die each year from
cirrhosis and liver cancer caused by the infection. Vaccination against
hepatitis B is routine in most industrialised countries鈥攂ut not in
Britain, where the rate of hepatitis B infection is still relatively low.