title: Dramatic decline in acute hepatitis B infection and disease incidence rates among adolescents and young people after 12 years of a mass hepatitis B vaccination programme of pre-adolescents in the schools of Catalonia (Spain).
abstract: The aim of the study was to describe the impact of hepatitis B vaccination and disease incidence in adolescents and young people 12 years after the launching of a mass hepatitis B vaccination of pre-adolescents in schools. Vaccination coverage was assessed using administrative and serological data. Infection trends were evaluated by means of seroepidemiological surveys. High levels of vaccination coverage and vaccine-induced immunity were achieved. The resulting low proportions of susceptible adolescents and young people have undoubtedly contributed to the substantial reduction in the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in the 15-24 years age group (0.9 per 100 in 2001 versus 9.3 per 100 in 1986) and in the reported incidence of hepatitis B cases (80% reduction). Over the last 3 years, the declining trend seems to have been halted, although 35% of cases reported during this period corresponded to immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Preventive Medicine Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, C. Casanova, 143, Barcelona 08036, Spain. salleras@ub.edu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salleras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruguera
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardeñosa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Batalla
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Navas
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Taberner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines