[Strategy for administering hepatitis B vaccine to newborns in Bosnia-Herzegovina].
BACKGROUND
Neonatal hepatitis B vaccination is the best effective measure for prevention hepatitis B infection in the countries with intermediate to high levels of HB endemicity.


METHODS
Epidemiological methods of research had the aim to follow the incidence rates of viral hepatitis B and HBsAg carriers and to determine influence on the risks of transmission hepatitis B infection in new-borns in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serologic immunogenic quality of hepatitis B vaccine is researched.


RESULTS
Bosnia and Herzegovina has high incidence of hepatitis B virus in the Europe. The incidence of HBsAg carriers is changing with increasing from 2000. to 2003. Data from this surveillance show in Bosnia and Herzegovina that in one notified case of hepatitis B there is 3.59 cases of HBsAg carriers. Hepatitis B vaccine induces anti-HBs antibodies titres > 10 IJ/ml, considered as seroprotective in 99, 10% vaccinated.


CONCLUSIONS
Neonatal hepatitis B vaccination is new vaccine in national immunization program in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hepatitis B vaccines are safe and effective in inducing neutralizing HBs antibodies play and have important role in protecting new-borns.
Puvacić
Sandra
S
Institut za epidemiologiju, Medicinski fakultet Sarajevo.
Curić
Ivo
I
Puvacić
Zlatko
Z
Ravlija
Jelena
J
Mulaomerović
Mirsada
M
D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines