title: Integration of hepatitis B vaccination into the expanded programme on immunization in Chonburi and Chiangmai provinces, Thailand.
abstract: Hepatitis B (HB) immunization was introduced as part of the expanded programme on immunization (EPI) in two provinces in Thailand and evaluated over a four year period. Three doses of HB vaccine were offered to 60,980 newborns at birth, 2 and 6 months of age. The overall coverage for complete HB immunization was 90.4%. Serosurveys of randomly selected children under the age of 5 years were undertaken before and at the end of the project. Levels of HBsAg positivity were reduced by 85%, and there was a corresponding 70% increase in protective immunity. These findings demonstrate that HB immunization can be successfully integrated into EPI without adverse effect on coverage rates of other antigens, and results in a marked reduction in the rate of chronic carriage of HB virus in preschool age children.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chunsuttiwat
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maynard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thamapalo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laoboripat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bovornsin
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Charanasri
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pinyowiwat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kunasol
mesh_terms: D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral