Vaccination against Hepatitis B has been available since 1981. Its use has been aimed at eventually eliminating the Hepatitis B virus worldwide or limiting the transmission of the infection to others. It is hoped the vaccine will reduce the number of people becoming ill from the virus as well as those 'carrying' the virus, therefore preventing the early death of some carriers from liver disease or liver cancer later in life.
In October 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a recommendation for commencing national Hepatitis B vaccination programs in countries with an infection rate of more than 8% by the year 1995 and for all countries worldwide to universally vaccinate by 1997.
Part of this recommendation included the possible introduction of hepatitis B vaccinations for all pre-adolescents or teenagers (or a booster vaccination if they were given Hepatitis B vaccine as a baby). This was aimed at preventing teenagers and young adults from becoming infected with the Hepatitis B virus as they start to move into the 'higher risk' age group of being sexually active and possible experimenting with injecting drugs or engaging in amateur piercing or tattooing.
In Australia, a report was complied in 1996 by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to consider how the Hepatitis B vaccinations would be implemented. Before this report the policy was for all babies: