Hepatitis A vaccination coverage among adults aged 18-49 years in the United States.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis A is the most common type of hepatitis reported in the United States. Prior to hepatitis A vaccine introduction in 1996, hepatitis A incidence followed a cyclic pattern with peak incidence occurring every 10-15 years. During 1980-1995, between 22,000 and 36,000 hepatitis A cases were reported annually. Since 1996, hepatitis A vaccination recommendations have included adults at risk for infection and children living in communities with the highest disease rates. This study provides the first national estimates of self-reported hepatitis A vaccination coverage among persons aged 18-49 years in the United States.


METHODS
We analyzed the 2007 National Immunization Survey-Adult (NIS-Adult) data with restrictions to individuals aged 18-49 years. National estimates of hepatitis A vaccination coverage were calculated based on self-report and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with hepatitis A vaccination status.


RESULTS
Among adults aged 18-49 years, 12.1% (95% confidence interval, CI=9.9-14.8%) had received two or more doses of hepatitis A vaccine in 2007. Hepatitis A vaccination coverage was significantly higher among adults aged 18-29 years (15.6%) and adults aged 30-39 years (12.9%) compared with adults aged 40-49 years (8.3%). Coverage was significantly lower for Hispanics (7.1%) compared with non-Hispanic whites (12.5%). Characteristics independently associated with a higher likelihood of hepatitis A vaccination among persons aged 18-49 years included younger age groups, persons at or above poverty level, persons with public medical insurance, and persons who received influenza vaccination in the past season.


CONCLUSIONS
In 2007, self-reported hepatitis A vaccination coverage among adults aged 18-49 years was 12.1%. These data provide the first national hepatitis A vaccination coverage estimates among adults and are very important in planning and implementing strategies for increasing hepatitis A vaccination coverage among adults at risk for hepatitis A.
Lu
Peng-jun
PJ
Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mail Stop E-62, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States. lhp8@cdc.gov
Euler
Gary L
GL
Hennessey
Karen A
KA
Weinbaum
Cindy M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines