The prevalence of hepatitis B has dropped to 1.7% in the population due to the nationwide public vaccination measure, said Moayed Alavian, head of Iran Hepatitis Network. “The prevalence rate of hepatitis B was 5% at one time, but has fallen to less than 2% in all provinces except Sistan-Baluchistan and Golestan where the rate is a little above 2%,” he said, ISNA reported. The rate of the disease in people under 27 has touched 0.5%. Infants and high-risk groups have been covered by comprehensive vaccination programs since 1994.