Effect of a Nationwide Universal HBV Vaccination Program and Catch-up Vaccination Campaign on HBV Prevalence in Children
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Objectives: In infants vaccinated at birth against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the context of a universal vaccination program, antibody titers may reduce over years, with a need for a booster dose at adolescence. The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunity and carriage status 8-10 years after 3 doses of HBV vaccine administered in infancy.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, community-based field study and was carried out between 2008 and 2011. Children with an anti-HBs titer ≤9 IU/mL, 10 to 99 IU/mL, and ≥100 IU/mL were categorized as negative, positive, and strongly positive.
Results: A total of 4,256 students born between 1995 and 2004 (age range: 7-12 years) were included in the study. Of the overall study group, 2099 (49.3%) were male and 2157 (50.7%) were female. In 62.3% of the children in group A (born in or before 1999), anti-HBs titers were above the protection limit (≥10 IU/mL), while this rate was 37.3% in group B (born in or after 2000), with a statistically significant difference (p<0.00001, 2=207.1841).
Conclusion: Three doses of HBV vaccination administered during the universal campaign is adequate with no need for booster doses, unless maternal hepatitis B surface antigen positivity is present.