An ethical argument in favour of routine hepatitis B vaccination in very low-incidence countries

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening viral infection that can be prevented through safe vaccination. This article argues that, firstly, there are important reasons to question the common policy of focusing on at-risk populations, and secondly, that there are positive reasons for very low-incidence countries such as the UK to consider implementing a programme of routine vaccination for hepatitis B. These conclusions can be supported by the strong ethical presumption that where a potentially devastating disease is easily preventable, those at potential risk should be protected. Even in very low-incidence countries such as the UK a policy based upon routine vaccination for hepatitis B may be an efficient and ethical way to reduce the burden of this disease.