Fact Check: "Only 13 cases of hepatitis B reported in 2022 due to vaccination."
What We Know
The claim that only 13 cases of hepatitis B were reported in 2022 is misleading. According to the CDC's Hepatitis B Surveillance Report, there were 2,126 new cases of acute hepatitis B reported during that year. Furthermore, the CDC estimates that there were 13,800 acute HBV infections in total for 2022. Additionally, there were 16,729 newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis B during the same period. This data indicates a significant prevalence of hepatitis B, contradicting the claim that only 13 cases were reported.
Analysis
The assertion that only 13 cases of hepatitis B were reported appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the data. The CDC's report clearly states that there were 2,126 new cases of acute hepatitis B and 16,729 cases of chronic hepatitis B in 2022 (source-1). The figure of 13 cases does not correspond to any recognized category of hepatitis B reporting, as the CDC does not provide a context in which only 13 cases would be relevant.
Moreover, the CDC's data is derived from a robust surveillance system that collects information from health departments across the United States. This system is designed to provide accurate and comprehensive data on viral hepatitis, making it a reliable source for understanding the epidemiology of hepatitis B (source-2).
The claim lacks credible support and does not align with the established data from health authorities. The misrepresentation could potentially undermine public health efforts aimed at increasing vaccination and awareness about hepatitis B, which is a vaccine-preventable disease.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that only 13 cases of hepatitis B were reported in 2022 is incorrect. The actual number of reported cases is significantly higher, with 2,126 acute cases and 16,729 chronic cases documented by the CDC. This discrepancy highlights the importance of accurate reporting and understanding of public health data.
