World Hepatitis Day 2026: Ensuring that life-saving interventions are accessible to everyone who needs them is a common challenge

World Hepatitis Day, marked each year on 28 July, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the risk of contracting hepatitis and the health threats it can bring, while at the same time recognising the progress Europe has made to strengthen prevention. By reducing vertical transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child to near zero levels and ensuring a safe supply of blood, tissues, and cells, many countries have shown that ambitious public health goals can be achieved. Now the challenge is to close the remaining gaps, particularly for hepatitis B vaccination and as well as harm reduction services targeted at people who inject drugs, helping Europe to eliminate hepatitis B and C by 2030 in line with the WHO target. World Hepatitis Day 2026: Despite progress towards eliminating hepatitis in Europe, gaps in prevention measures keep 2030 targets out of reach