No Hepatitis C Vaccine Exists for Children
There is currently no vaccine available for Hepatitis C for children or adults. The immunization schedules from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) do not include a Hepatitis C vaccine because one has not been developed 1.
Available Hepatitis Vaccines for Children
The current recommended childhood immunization schedule includes:
- Hepatitis B vaccine: Administered in a 3-dose series starting at birth, with subsequent doses at 1-2 months and 6-18 months of age 1
- Hepatitis A vaccine: Recommended for all children at 12 months of age (12-23 months) as a 2-dose series, with doses separated by at least 6 months 1
Hepatitis C: Current Approach
Since there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C:
- Children born to women with chronic Hepatitis C should be evaluated and tested for HCV due to the risk of vertical transmission 2
- Diagnosis of HCV in neonates should be postponed until after the child reaches 1 year of age, as infants may have transient viremia 3
- The overall prevalence of HCV in children is estimated to be 0.87% worldwide 2
- Treatment options for children with HCV infection include direct-acting antivirals such as Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir 2
Why No Hepatitis C Vaccine Exists
- HCV has significant genetic diversity and mutates rapidly, making vaccine development challenging 4
- Unlike Hepatitis B, which has a stable viral structure that allowed for successful vaccine development, HCV continues to evade vaccine development efforts 4
- Research on HCV vaccines is ongoing, with some approaches reaching Phase I/II human clinical trials, but none have been approved for general use 4
Prevention of Hepatitis C in Children
In the absence of a vaccine, prevention focuses on:
- Screening pregnant women at high risk for HCV infection 2, 3
- Testing children born to HCV-positive mothers after 12 months of age 3
- Following standard precautions to prevent blood-borne pathogen transmission 2
Importance of Existing Hepatitis Vaccines
- Hepatitis B: Universal vaccination has dramatically decreased the incidence of acute HBV infections in children from more than 3/100,000 to 0.34/100,000 3, 5
- Hepatitis A: Recommended for all children at 1 year of age to prevent hepatitis A infection and its complications 1
Key Points to Remember
- Verify that children receive the complete 3-dose series of Hepatitis B vaccine and 2-dose series of Hepatitis A vaccine according to the recommended schedule 1
- Be aware that there is no Hepatitis C vaccine available, despite ongoing research efforts 2, 4
- For children at risk of HCV infection, focus on screening, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment when indicated 2, 3