title: Effectiveness of a mass hepatitis A vaccination program in preadolescents.
abstract: A program of mass hepatitis A+B vaccination in preadolescents in schools was begun in the Catalonia in the last quarter of 1998. This study investigated the impact of the program by comparing the incidence of hepatitis A in vaccinated and unvaccinated cohort. The greatest reduction of the incidence rate of hepatitis A was observed in the 10-14 years age group, from 10.3 per 100000 persons-year in the period 1996-1998 to 1.8 per 100000 persons-year in the period 1999-2001. The global incidence decreased from 6.2 to 2.6 per 100000 persons-year. After analysis of cases occurring in the vaccinated and non vaccinated cohort, the effectiveness of the vaccination program was estimated at 97.0% (95% CI: 78.6-99.6).
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Social Security, General Directorate of Public Health, Generalitat of Catalonia, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. angelad@dsss.scs.es
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salleras
authors.forename: Glòria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Batalla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines