Hepatitis B rates in Aboriginal women are being dramatically reduced through vaccination, new research led by the University of NSW shows.
Data from almost half a million NSW women giving birth to their first child show hepatitis B rates are 80 per cent lower in Aboriginal women born since vaccinations began.
Introduced to NSW in 1987, the immunisation program offers hepatitis B screening to pregnant mothers, and vaccinates newborn children.
This prevents a woman with hepatitis B from passing the disease on to her child.
With World Immunisation Week taking place from 24-28 April, it was a timely reminder of the impact vaccination can play in reducing cancer risk.
Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C can increase a person’s risk of liver cancer, which is now one of the top ten causes of death in Australia.
Managing hepatitis B in NSW
The hepatitis B vaccination program is today free in Australia and recommended for all babies and adolescents, as well as people at high risk of the disease.
Professor David Currow, Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW says hepatitis B is still a problem in Australia, urging people to see their GP and get vaccinated.
“If you are a person from a country where hepatitis B is common, have a hepatitis B test. See a doctor who is knowledgeable about hepatitis B,” Professor Currow said.
“If you have hepatitis B, form a really good relationship with your GP and monitor how your liver is going, and how your hepatitis is going.”
Additionally, while preventative steps are crucial, Professor Currow said it's also important to monitor your general health if you think you might be at risk.
Hepatitis B is most often spread from mother to infant, and is primarily present in multicultural and Aboriginal communities.
These populations, as well as people with liver cancer, are all key focus areas for improvement as part of the NSW Cancer Plan.
What other vaccines are reducing the impact of cancers?
The HPV vaccine program commenced in Australia in 2007 and is provided free in schools as part of the National Immunisation Program.
It is being credited with dramatically reducing the incidence of HPV in Australia.
Data released recently by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show NSW is leading the way in HPV vaccination, but one in five girls and one in three boys can still reduce their risk.