WHO’s ETAGE validates Armenia as having reached regional hepatitis B control targets

Armenia has been validated by the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts (ETAGE) as a country that has reached the regional targets for hepatitis B control through immunization.

ETAGE is a body of 6–8 immunization experts appointed by the WHO Regional Director for Europe. This group is tasked with providing independent review and expert technical input to WHO/Europe’s vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programme (VPI), with the goal of facilitating and accelerating achievements in relation to European Immunization Agenda 2030, including eradication, elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the WHO European Region.

In connection with this achievement, an official certificate was presented to Armenia at the initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Armenia.

Within the framework of the assessment conducted by the World Health Organization, key factors included high vaccination coverage against hepatitis B, prevention of perinatal transmission, and ensuring a low prevalence of HBsAg among vaccinated groups.

The achievement is an important step in Armenia’s immunization and hepatitis B prevention efforts and reflects the results of the consistent policies and measures implemented by the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Health.

Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan, welcoming those present at the ceremony, said that the certificate is a major achievement and testifies that the national immunization program is working and is already producing results.

“Our children are free from acute hepatitis B and this very severe chronic disease. This is first and foremost a health issue, but it is also an economic issue. Every month, a person living with chronic hepatitis B spends 30,000-40,000 drams just on medication. Imagine what a huge burden this is for each person and family, as well as for the state. By investing in the health of our children, we are keeping them free from this disease and the costs associated with it in the future. I think this is a very significant result, and I congratulate and thank the entire healthcare system, our healthcare workers, healthcare organizers and the Ministry for this achievement,” the minister said.

Avanesyan said that achieving good results does not mean stopping; it is necessary to move forward and set new targets.

“Of course, this is an occasion to look back and see that our policies and efforts are producing results, and to move forward with the aim of embracing even greater targets. We are also now discussing the issue of providing medicines for the management of chronic hepatitis B, because it is very important that our patients are also protected in terms of their ongoing treatment. First of all, we plan to consider including pregnant women in this program, and later expanding it as well. But we must continue the very important work of vaccination and the overall immunization program. These achievements can be very easily lost; we must preserve them and improve them even further,” the minister said.

Dr. Roberta Pastore, Lead for Immunization Programme Strengthening at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, emphasized that she was happy to be in Armenia and to represent the WHO Regional Office for Europe, noting that Armenia has achieved the hepatitis B control targets through vaccination.

According to her, in 2015, within the framework of the European Vaccine Action Plan, the WHO Regional Office for Europe declared hepatitis B control a priority. It continues to remain a goal within the European Immunization Agenda 2030, as well as within regional action plans for the elimination of viral hepatitis.

“The achievement of the hepatitis B control targets is confirmed through a rigorous assessment process, within which vaccination coverage indicators and the prevalence of hepatitis B are studied. Armenia has undertaken all the necessary steps to collect evidence confirming the achievement of the hepatitis B control targets. The validation process in Armenia confirmed that over the past two decades, the country’s efforts have been successful in introducing universal hepatitis B vaccination among newborns and children and ensuring high vaccination coverage,” Pastore said.

According to her, this proves that Armenia has not only reached its hepatitis B control target, but has gone beyond it, moving closer to the goal of eliminating the disease.

“I would like to congratulate you on this achievement, which makes Armenia one of 11 validated countries. Thanks to your commitment to and investment in vaccination over the past two decades, you have been able to create a generation of children and adolescents who will grow up to be healthier adults. They will be free from hepatitis B infection and its severe and fatal consequences,” she said.

Dr. Stepan Atoyan, Director General of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, speaking about the path to achieving the target, noted that this is not only a summary of the work done over the past years, but also a journey based on consistent state and healthcare policies, the dedicated work of healthcare professionals and the support of international partners.

“We know that hepatitis B vaccination was introduced into the national immunization schedule about 30 years ago and, like any newly introduced vaccine, went through its subsequent stages: first rejection, then partial acceptance, and finally acceptance. As a result, we now have the picture that was mentioned by our colleague. Social studies that have been conducted also attest to this success. Acute hepatitis B is no longer being recorded among children, which speaks to the success of the vaccination process. At the same time, I would like to note that this certificate is, of course, very binding, because, as Ms. Avanesyan mentioned in her remarks, last year we recorded a fairly high rate among children under one year of age, and we are obliged to maintain this high rate and, naturally, preserve it,” Atoyan said.

He also thanked the minister for her personal participation in the digitalization process, as the digitalization of healthcare services greatly contributes to the immunization process, as well as to epidemiological surveillance and disease control.