American Cancer Society Endorses Hepatitis B 'Catch-up' Immunization for Children/ Urges Use of First Cancer Prevention Vaccine

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American Cancer Society Endorses Hepatitis B 'Catch-up' Immunization

for Children/ Urges Use of First Cancer Prevention Vaccine

April 27, 2001

ATLANTA, April 26 /PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation -

Citing hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) as the most significant risk factor

for later development of liver cancer, the American Cancer Society today

endorsed greater efforts to foster immunization against this virus of all

children, from birth to age 18.

" Preventing liver cancer with a vaccine against the virus that may cause it

is a powerful and necessary tactic, " said Dileep G. Bal, M.D., M.S., M.P.H.,

national president of the American Cancer Society.

" The hepatitis B vaccine is the first effective cancer prevention vaccine

and we are committed to increase public awareness and use of this proven

anti-cancer weapon, " he said.

" The burden of hepatitis B infection and liver cancer is significantly

greater in Asian and Pacific Islanders than in whites in the United States.

In fact, liver cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths among

Asians and Pacific Islanders. This compares in rank order to breast cancer

among whites. This disparity prompts us to also vigorously support efforts

to prevent liver cancer, especially among Asians and Pacific Islanders, "

said Moon S. Chen, Jr., Ph.D., M.P.H., member of the American Cancer

Society's national board of directors.

About 5,000 people in the United States die each year from liver failure

caused by HBV infection, including 1,500 who die of liver cancer. Experts

agree that HBV vaccine can provide protection against infection in 90-95% of

healthy people. In the US, hepatitis B shots were recommended by the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for people at high risk starting in

l982, for all infants since l991, for all adolescents 11-12 year of age

since l995, and finally, for all children up to age 18 since l999.

For infants, the first of three shots is often given in the hospital or

shortly after birth. Since l993, about 90 percent of all children born in

the United States have received their three shot HBV immunization series

before their third birthday, but many children who are 8 and older have not

been immunized yet.

" The Society shares the deep concern that many of these older children,

especially in the Asian and Pacific Islander community, missed immunization

as infants, " said Dr. Chen.

" Let us join in a 'catch-up' hepatitis B campaign so that these youngsters

do not need to die from a vaccine-preventable disease. An ounce of

prevention is worth more than a pound of cure ... and in the case of liver

cancer, the chance of cure is slim, " he said.

Extensive information about liver cancer and hepatitis B vaccination can be

found on the CDC website, http://www.cdc.gov and http://www.cancer.org as

well as by calling the American Cancer Society's 24 hour, 7 day-a-week,

toll-free telephone service at 1-800-ACS-2345.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary

health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health

problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from

cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

SOURCE American Cancer Society

CONTACT: Joann Schellenbach, Corporate Communications of The American Cancer

Society, 212-382-2169, jschelle@...

Web site: http://www.cdc.gov http://www.cancer.org