France is classified as a country with low endemicity for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with an estimated HBsAg prevalence of 0.65% and an incidence of symptomatic acute hepatitis of 1 per 100,000 inhabitants. The mortality rate attributable to HBV is estimated at 2.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. However, more than half of HBsAg carriers are unaware of their seropositivity, and sexual transmission of hepatitis B remains a concern. It is the primary mode of transmission of the infection (more than 35% of reported cases of symptomatic acute hepatitis B). The fact that humans are the sole reservoir of the virus makes highly effective prevention of this infection through vaccination feasible. The vaccine’s ability to reduce the incidence of acute hepatitis B and subsequently lower the risk of chronic infection has been demonstrated. However, vaccination coverage among infants and adolescents in France remains very low, at less than 50%. It is therefore imperative to improve the implementation of vaccination recommendations, targeting not only infants and preteens, but also newborns of HBsAg-positive mothers and individuals at increased risk of HBV infection. Thus, two major public health initiatives must be promoted in France: increasing vaccination coverage and improving hepatitis B screening practices by testing for HBs antigen in individuals likely to have been exposed to the virus to enable early management and the implementation of preventive measures (including screening of close contacts and hepatitis B vaccination). (R.A.)