Thousands of fifth-grade students in the Houston and Aldine school districts will receive vaccine that protects against hepatitis B, a virus that strikes up to 300,000 Americans each year and is 100 times more contagious than HIV.

The vaccination initiative is one of the largest ever conducted for Houston-area students. The program is being administered by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, and is being funded through a grant to NFID from the Houston Episcopal Health Charities.

"Our program has a simple goal - to prevent needy students in the Houston area from contracting hepatitis B infections that can destroy their bodies and take their lives. Three injections during the course of the school year will provide these fifth-graders with a lifetime of protection," said William J. Martone, MD, senior executive director, NFID.

The first safe and effective hepatitis B vaccine was licensed in 1982. In 1991, the US Public Health Service added the vaccine to its recommended childhood immunization schedule, and hepatitis B vaccine coverage in infants averaged 68 percent by 1995. Dr. Martone noted that the fifth-grade students targeted by the Houston initiative were born before hepatitis B immunizations became routine - leaving them "at risk" for contracting a preventable disease.

"The grant from Episcopal Health Charities allows us to provide a valuable service to these kids, many of whom come from low-income families that simply cannot afford the extra expense of vaccinations. Because it is hard to argue with a free immunization that can save your life, we expect excellent participation rates at each of our schools," said Kim Sansaricq, RN, MPH, program coordinator for the initiative.

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that leads to a serious and sometimes fatal disease affecting the liver. Hepatitis B can be contracted through intimate contact or intravenous drug use. However, the cause of disease transmission remains unknown in about 40 percent of the new hepatitis B infections each year. More than 70 percent of all new cases involve children and young adults between the ages of 15 and 39. Hepatitis B or its complications claim 5,000 lives each year.

Three injections over four to six months are required to achieve complete protection against hepatitis B. The Houston program began administering first doses at area schools this fall. Parental consent forms are required before students can participate in the program.

In all, the Houston immunization initiative will reach more than 7,000 fifth-graders at 70 local schools. The challenge of vaccine delivery to such a large group of children has been met by a broad-based coalition of local and state government agencies, including the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, the Texas State Department of Health, volunteer organizations, and industry. A majority of vaccine will be made available from the Texas State Department of Health through the Vaccines for Children program. In addition, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals has ensured that enough vaccine will be available so that every child not qualifying for free vaccine under Vaccines for Children will be immunized.