Effect of a hepatitis B vaccination program on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection.
In April 1991, surveys for serologic evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were conducted among 3- to 4-year-old children born after a hepatitis B immunization program of newborns began and among 6- to 11-year-old children targeted for early childhood vaccination in American Samoa. Compared with 3- to 4-year-olds tested in 1991, children tested at baseline in 1985 were more likely to have been infected with HBV (5/40 vs. 2/93; prevalence ratio [PR] = 5.8, 95% confidence limits [CL] = 1.2, 28.7) and to have chronic infection with HBV (3/40 vs. 0/95; PR = undefined, lower CL = 1.2). Compared with 6- to 11-year-olds tested in 1991, children in 1985 were more likely to have been infected with HBV (32/121 vs. 53/386; PR = 1.9, CL = 1.3, 2.8) and to have chronic infection with HBV (8/121 vs. 7/386; PR = 3.6, CL = 1.3, 9.8). The incorporation of hepatitis B vaccine into routine childhood vaccination schedules can prevent acute and chronic HBV infection in areas of high endemicity.
Mahoney
F J
FJ
Epidemiology Section, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
Woodruff
B A
BA
Erben
J J
JJ
Coleman
P J
PJ
Reid
E C
EC
Schatz
G C
GC
Kane
M A
MA
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D014905:Independent State of Samoa / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015995:Prevalence; D014611:Vaccination
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines