title: [Strategy for administering hepatitis B vaccine to newborns in Bosnia-Herzegovina].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institut za epidemiologiju, Medicinski fakultet Sarajevo.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puvacić
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Curić
authors.forename: Zlatko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Puvacić
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravlija
authors.forename: Mirsada
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mulaomerović
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines