Immunization of newborns of HBsag‐ positive mothers: A successful first step in control of hepatitis B virus in Taiwan
Brian J. McMahon – 1 June 1989 – To combat hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Taiwan, a mass immunoprophylaxis program was launched on July 1, 1984, aiming first at prevention of chronic HBV carriage from perinatal mother‐to‐infant infection. In the first 15‐month period, 352721 (78%) of 450585 pregnant women were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); HBsAg was present in 62359 (18%), with 50% of them categorized as highly infectious.