Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care services related to hepatitis B

Hepatitis B infection affects about 216,000 people in Canada. While vaccines and effective treatments for achieving viral suppression are available, chronic hepatitis B infection remains a cause of serious illness and death. The COVID-19 pandemic led to disruptions in health care services. However, the impact of the pandemic on testing and treatment for hepatitis B is not well understood. This study will investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related policies on testing and treatment for hepatitis B from April 2020 to December 2022 in British Columbia (BC). We will look at impacts on the full population of BC and impacts for sex and age groups, prenatal women, people who inject drugs, and immigrants. This study will provide information to help make policy aimed at eliminating hepatitis B as a public health threat by 2030. It will also provide information to help make policy to deliver health care services related to hepatitis B during future health care system disruptions such as pandemics.