The article reviewed hepatitis B vaccination programmes across European Union countries, Norway, and Iceland as of 2009. Most countries had introduced universal hepatitis B vaccination for children, while a few countries with lower disease rates focused on vaccinating only high-risk groups. The study showed that vaccination coverage was generally high where universal programmes existed, and most countries provided the vaccine for free to children and high-risk groups. However, coverage among certain risk groups, such as people with specific lifestyle risks, remained difficult to monitor and often lower. The article concluded that while significant progress had been made in protecting populations from hepatitis B, challenges remained in reaching all at-risk groups and ensuring consistent coverage across countries.
In 2009, I was invited to join the VENICE‑2 expert consortium, commissioned by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to collect and compare information on national vaccination programmes and to develop recommendations for their standardisation. This work provided a basis for EU institutions to engage with countries and promote greater long‑term compatibility of vaccination policies. This manuscript was the first publication produced after I joined the project as a representative of the Polish institute. Although my contribution to this particular paper was limited, I found the work highly valuable and informative.