Clin Exp Vaccine Res.  2013 Jul;2(2):76-82. 10.7774/cevr.2013.2.2.76.

Paths toward hepatitis B immunization in South Korea and Taiwan

• Chen TW

• KMID: 2167716
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7774/cevr.2013.2.2.76

Abstract

South Korea and Taiwan have had similar experiences of economic development in the post-war era. The two societies have also successfully overcome the threat of liver cancer by using mass hepatitis B vaccinations. However, to reach their current states, they followed different directions, and experienced differing effects on their national health governance systems. In South Korea, vaccine production occurred prior to effectively introducing immunization programs. In contrast, Taiwan established an effective immunization program first. However, industrialization of vaccines against hepatitis B has failed. Taiwan has to import vaccines for domestic use. This article provides a contextual overview on the different methods South Korea and Taiwan have used to arrive at their modern status of hepatitis B immunization.

Keyword

Hepatitis B vaccines; Immunization programs; Industrialization of vaccine; Taiwan; Republic of Korea

MeSH Terms

Economic Development
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B Vaccines
Immunization
Immunization Programs
Liver Neoplasms
Republic of Korea
Taiwan
Vaccination
Vaccines
Industrial Development
Hepatitis B Vaccines
Vaccines

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Comparison of social development between South Korea and Taiwan during the period of 1970-2010. Taiwan and Korea have similar paths of growth in terms of life expectancy and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. The paths are not identical because of different social and economic contexts. Source: adapted from World Bank; DG Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Taiwan.

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  Fig. 2 Average doses of vaccine inoculated per newborns in Taiwan from 1986 to 2000. The average doses inoculated for each infant approach 4 in the era of plasma-derived vaccine and decline to approximately 3 when recombinant DNA vaccines were introduced in Taiwan. Source: Department of Health (DoH), Taiwan.

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