Improved sanitation and hygiene in Kerala are leading to hepatitis A infection shifting from young children to adolescents and young adults.
This is because childhood infection provided immunity, but better hygiene reduces exposure in early years.
Hepatitis A in Children:
Hepatitis A infection is usually mild in children under 6 years old.
In 70% of cases, children show no symptoms.
However, vaccination is still recommended to prevent severe illness later in life.
Hepatitis A Outbreaks:
Kerala has faced frequent hepatitis A outbreaks in recent years, with some outbreaks leading to fatalities.
Vaccination as a Solution:
A study found that vaccinating children at age 1 and adolescents at age 15 with either a live or inactivated vaccine is cost-effective.
Cost Analysis:
Vaccination costs were compared to projected treatment costs over five years.
Vaccinating adolescents is projected to save significant money compared to treatment costs regardless of the vaccine type.
For children under 1, vaccination costs may be higher than treatment costs over five years.
However, the study suggests long-term savings due to lifelong immunity provided by vaccination.
Vaccine Options:
Live attenuated vaccine requires one dose and is generally less expensive.
Inactivated vaccine requires two doses and is more expensive.
Overall Benefit:
Both vaccines are considered cost-effective as they prevent future healthcare costs.
Although vaccination may not show net savings for children under 1 within the first five years, the benefits of lifelong immunity will lead to significant cost savings in the long run.
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