Almost three million children and adolescents between two and 19 years old in Lima and the port city of Callao will receive hepatitis B vaccinations starting in April as part of the Health Ministry’s national campaign against the virus, the coordinator of the National Immunization Strategy said Tuesday.
The ministry will give the vaccinations in three doses at a minimum interval of eight weeks, Agencia Andina quoted María Ana Mendoza saying. The first doses is reportedly scheduled to begin April 1, followed by a second round in June and the final round of vaccinations in October.
According to Mendoza, the Health Ministry’s aim is to vaccinate more than 10 million people in Peru.
Hepatitis B is a DNA virus that can cause liver inflammation, vomiting, and jaundice. It can also lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is preventable by vaccination.
