title: The hepatitis B immunization strategy in Nova Scotia: is it effective?
abstract: Since 1987, both hepatitis B disease and hepatitis B vaccine utilization have increased dramatically in Nova Scotia. We present a review of hepatitis B vaccine utilization relative to the occurrence of disease in Nova Scotia. In the two regions with the highest incidence rates, cases have been increasingly associated with lifestyle-related risk factors. Vaccine utilization was primarily for occupational risks. The current provincial hepatitis B immunization strategy is to recommend immunization to targeted high-risk groups. This strategy was judged to be ineffective. The cost of the vaccine is the most important deterrent for adopting an expanded or universal immunization strategy. The pooling of hepatitis B vaccine orders across Canada is suggested as a means to effect significant reductions in the cost of vaccine. Provincial programs would then be able to expand coverage to include populations at immediate risk and youngsters prior to the start of high-risk activity.
authors.affiliation: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poulin
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Gyorkos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines