Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Immunizaton is the most effective way of preventing contagious diseases in children. Expanded programme immunization (E.P.I) in Iran started actively in 1984 when coverage of immunization for six communicsbl« diseases namely poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and measles was about 20 percent and for tuberculosis was less than 5 percent surveys done in mid 1988 and 1991 showed that the over all coverage for first five diseases and tuberculosis rapidly reached 88 and 92 percent respectively (4).

Who recommended that hepatites B vaccination to be added to E.P.I. in countries where carrier rate is 8% or over this vaccination to be added by the end of 1995 and in all countries by the end of 1997.

Studies on volunteer !Jlood donors carried out by the Iran National Blood bank in various parts of Iran showed 2- 3 percent HbsAg positivity healthy blood donors who were HbsAg negative, HBc Ab and HBsAb rate was 11.2 and 10.4 percent in those under 20 years, and 54 and 47 percent in those above fifty years of age, respectively (3).

Prevention of this dangerous debilitating and lethal diseases which is highly contagious is very important and life saving, National Commitee of E.P.I has rcommended and approved the addition of hepatitis B vaccine to the previous immunization schedule which has come to action since the second haff of march 1993 and is going to cover all the new borns with three doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth, six weeks later and the last one at 9 months of age (2).