[Health Council report 'Protection against hepatitis B': an opportunity for effective prevention through cooperation].

The Health Council of the Netherlands has issued a report updating the guidelines for prevention of hepatitis B formulated in 1983, in which vaccination of high-risk groups was prescribed only to a limited extent. Based on new evidence regarding horizontal transmission, immigration from endemic countries and improved vaccine potency and safety, the new Health Council report now advises-in addition to continuation and intensification of the high risk group approach-universal vaccination, in accordance with the WHO guidelines. The hepatitis B vaccine may be added to the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-poliomyelitis vaccination protocol in early infancy. The logistics of improving vaccination coverage may benefit from the creation of small working groups for the separate risk groups which will report to a central steering committee.