Despite the widespread availability of the hepatitis B vaccine, immunization rates are low and hepatitis B remains a global health problem. Many children worldwide remain unvaccinated and at risk for liver cancer and liver failure and many adults may be chronic carriers.

• One third of the world's total population (2 billion) has been infected with hepatitis B virus. Most people develop natural immunity to HBV after acute (initial) infection.
• There are approximately 350 million people with chronic (lifelong) HBV infection. About 78% (275 million) of chronically infected individuals reside in Asia or the Pacific Islands. In contrast, globally there are 170 million people with chronic hepatitis C and 40 million people with HIV/AIDS.
• In many Asian countries, 10% (5-20%) of the population are chronically infected with HBV.
• About 1 million people die each year (the equivalent of 2,800 deaths per day, 115 deaths per hour, or 1-2 deaths per minute) from liver cancer or liver failure caused by HBV.
• An estimated 550,000 people each year die of liver cancer; 360,000 of these deaths are in East Asian countries alone (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea).
• Without appropriate monitoring or treatment, 1 in 4 of those chronically infected will die from liver cancer or liver failure.
• Every 30-45 seconds, one person dies from this vaccine-preventable disease.