Dr. Toylak, “Successful protection against hepatitis B disease is provided throughout the country”

Stating that the coverage of the 3rd dose of Hepatitis B vaccine in 2022 was 99.41 percent, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Erdem Toylak said, “In other words, almost all targeted people were vaccinated. Thanks to this program, successful protection against Hepatitis B disease is provided throughout the country.”

Tunceli State Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Erdem Toylak made statements due to July 28 World Hepatitis Day.

Stating that hepatitis is simply inflammation of the liver, Dr. Toylak said, “Hepatitis is the most common infectious disease that causes death after tuberculosis and can develop due to many reasons. Viral hepatitis is caused by different types of viruses, especially Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses are of particular importance as they can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis or liver cancer in the long term.”

Giving information about the types of hepatitis, Dr. Toylak said, “Hepatitis A is a disease that can be transmitted through water and food and spreads easily under poor hygienic conditions. While it passes with mild symptoms in childhood, it can cause serious liver disease and death in older ages. In Turkey, the incidence of infection has decreased with increased access to hygiene rules and clean water sources and the introduction of Hepatitis A vaccination. In Turkey, children are vaccinated with 2 free doses of Hepatitis A vaccine at 18 and 24 months and people in the risk group are vaccinated with 2 doses at 6-month intervals. The coverage of vaccines administered in 2022 is 96.06 percent.

Transmission routes of hepatitis B and C include transfusion of uncontrolled blood and blood products, sharing of infected syringes, sexual intercourse, mother-to-infant transmission and domestic contact. The most effective way to prevent hepatitis B is vaccination. In Turkey, hepatitis B vaccine was added to the routine childhood vaccination schedule in 1998 and is administered free of charge to people in risk groups. There is not yet a vaccine against hepatitis C virus, but effective treatments are available and these treatments are provided free of charge under general health insurance in Turkey. In 2022, the coverage of the 3rd dose of Hepatitis B vaccine was 99.41 percent. In other words, almost all targeted people were vaccinated. Thanks to this program, a successful protection against Hepatitis B disease is provided throughout the country.”

Dr. Toylak emphasized the importance of taking protection measures related to meeting ways other than vaccination to protect against hepatitis and said, “Getting information and awareness by applying to health institutions is an important step in the prevention and control of viral hepatitis.”