General vaccination against hepatitis B revisited

In its 2007 report The future of the National Immunisation Programme: towards a programme for all age groups the Dutch Health Council carried out a preliminary selection from a large number of candidate vaccines. Further analysis was recommended for a limited number of vaccines, and for vaccination against hepatitis B the Council recommended that the effectiveness and appropriateness of directed hepatitis B vaccination programmes be evaluated and compared with a general vaccination programme. The present advisory report is the result of this evaluation and comparison.

Committee

• Professor E.J. Ruitenberg, Emeritus Professor of Immunology, Utrecht University, Professor of International Public Health, VU University, Amsterdam, chairman
• Professor J.J. Roord, Professor of Paediatrics, VU University, Amsterdam, vice chairman
• Dr. M.A.E. Conyn-van Spaendonck, Physician, epidemiologist and National Immunisation Programme manager, Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, advisor
• Dr. P.J. van Dalen, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, Den Haag, advisor
• Professor W. van Eden, Physician, microbiologist and Professor of Veterinary Immunology, Utrecht University
• Professor R. de Groot, Professor of Paediatrics, Radboud University Nijmegen
• Dr. H.E. de Melker, Epidemiologist, Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, advisor
• Dr. T.G.W.M. Paulussen, Sector Head, Health Promotion, TNO Quality of Life, Leiden
• Professor M.J. Postma, Professor of Health Economics, University of Groningen (RUG)
• Dr. H.C. Rümke, Paediatrician and epidemiologist, Vaxinostics, University Vaccine Centre, Rotterdam and Nijmegen
• Professor J.L. Severens, Professor of Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University and Maastricht University Hospital
• Professor B.H. Stricker, Professor of Pharmaco-epidemiology, Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Professor S.P. Verloove-Vanhorick, Professor of Preventive and Curative Paediatric Health Care, Leiden University, TNO Quality of Life, Leiden
• H.J. Vermeulen-Schakel, Health Centre physician, GGD Kennemerland, Hoofddorp
• Dr. M. Verweij, Ethicist, Ethics Institute, Utrecht University
• Dr. A.C.G. Voordouw, Physician, MPH, Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG), Den Haag, advisor
• Dr. H.L. Zaaijer, Physician and microbiologist, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam
• Dr. H. Houweling, Physician and epidemiologist, Health Council, Den Haag, scientific secretary
• C. Wittevrongel, Health Council, Den Haag, scientific secretary