The impact of a new universal infant and school-based adolescent hepatitis B vaccination program in Australia.
We compared the results of two national serosurveys in Australia to evaluate the impact of universal infant vaccination and school-based programs for adolescents. Immunity improved significantly overall, especially in 1-year-olds (40.0% versus 86%; p<0.0001); in adolescents it was significantly higher in regions with established school-based programs (56.6% versus 38.8%; p=0.0008). 6.1% of 1-59-year-olds were positive for HBcAb and 0.7% for HBsAg. We have demonstrated successful implementation of universal infant hepatitis B vaccination in Australia and that school-based programs for adolescents are effective. This experience should be applicable to low prevalence countries in northern Europe which have not implemented universal hepatitis B immunisation.
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Public Health and Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research Building, 3rd Floor, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia. hgidding@nchecr.unsw.edu.au
Heather F
HF
Gidding
Margaret
M
Warlow
C Raina
CR
MacIntyre
Josephine
J
Backhouse
Gwendolyn L
GL
Gilbert
Helen E
HE
Quinn
Peter B
PB
McIntyre
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D012574:Schools
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines