Impact of universal preadolescent vaccination against hepatitis B on antenatal seroprevalence of hepatitis B markers in British Columbia women.
Countries with a low risk of hepatitis B (HB) lack data on the effectiveness of universal HB vaccination programs for children. British Columbia began a program in 1992, offering HB vaccination to 11 year olds. We conducted an anonymous, unlinked serologic survey 7 years later, analyzing a random sample of specimens (n = 1215) from women aged 15-44 years who had undergone antenatal rubella testing. Among those aged 15-19 years inclusive there was no evidence of chronic HB (HB surface antigen), the proportion with evidence of acute HB (anti-HB core antibody) was only 0.6% (compared with 6.5% for the entire sample), and evidence of protective immunity was strong: the prevalence of anti-HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) was 79.1% (compared with 41.4% for the entire sample) and the geometric mean titre was 34.9 IU/mL (compared with 0.6-0.8 IU/mL for the older groups [p < 0.001]).
Dawar
Meenakshi
M
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Medical Programs, Pacific Region, Health Canada, Vancouver, BC. meenakshi_dawar@hc-sc.gc.ca
Patrick
David M
DM
Bigham
Mark
M
Cook
Darrel
D
Krajden
Mel
M
Ng
Helen
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000592:standards*; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016387:Women's Health
D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens