HEPATITIS B IMMUNIZATION

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Acting Minister for Health whether his Ministry will carry out an exercise to vaccinate Singaporeans against Hepatitis B and if he will make it a requirement for all new-born babies to be vaccinated against the disease.

The Acting Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Sir, the Ministry of Health has, since 1983, been immunizing specific groups of Singaporeans who have a high risk of contracting Hepatitis B. They include health care workers, National Servicemen and newborn babies of Hepatitis B- carrier mothers.

In addition, immunization for a fee for the public was offered at nine Primary Health polyclinics and five Government hospitals from 1985.

Immunizing all newborn babies against Hepatitis B would be an effective strategy to break the Hepatitis B infection cycle over the long term. My Ministry is currently looking into the implications of making this compulsory for all newborn babies.

Mr Teo Chong Tee: Sir, may I ask the Hon. Acting Minister, firstly, whether his Ministry would bear the cost of such vaccination and, secondly, if the cost has to be borne by the people, how could this be made cheap and affordable for the people to be immunized against such disease?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, it is precisely because the cost of the vaccine is very high that the Ministry is looking into the implications of making it compulsory. The vaccination is now being made available to the public. For newborn babies, the cost of three doses of vaccination would come to about $60. For adults, the cost of a cycle of three doses would come to $120. This is very much cheaper than what is offered in the private sector. In fact, for adults, it is offered at the cost of the vaccine itself.