title: Universal hepatitis B vaccination in Belgium: impact on serological markers 3 and 7 years after implementation.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be eliminated by effective universal vaccination. In Belgium, a free-of-charge HBV vaccination programme in infants with catch-up in adolescents was introduced in 1999. To evaluate the effects in <20-year-olds, seroprotection (anti-HBs >11 mIU/ml, according to the assay) and markers of infection (anti-HBc, HBsAg) were assessed in 2443 residual sera collected 7-8 years after implementation of the programme. The maximal prevalence of a solely anti-HBs seroprotective ('vaccinated') serostatus was 82·9% at age 1 year and 60·5% at age 13 years. A clear increase was found in age cohorts targeted by the campaign after a similar serosurvey conducted 4 years earlier. The prevalence of HBV infection remained unchanged at a low level (1·8% in 2006) similar to pre-vaccination data (1993-1994). We conclude that universal HBV vaccination has achieved overall high levels of vaccine-induced immunity, despite regional variations, which may give rise to pockets of susceptible young adults in the future.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Theeten
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute of Public Health, Virology Section, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hutse
authors.affiliation: Centre of Youth Health Care, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoppenbrouwers
authors.affiliation: Center for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beutels
authors.affiliation: Center for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: VAN Damme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines