title: Trends of acute hepatitis B notification rates in eastern China from 2005 to 2013.
abstract: Zhejiang Province was a high endemicity for hepatitis B disease in the 1990's. A number of measures implemented since then have begun to control and prevent hepatitis B. In 1992, hepatitis B vaccine came on the market. In 2002, hepatitis B vaccine was included in the national Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Between 2007 and 2010, catch-up vaccination was implemented for children under 15. Since 2010, vaccination guidelines for high-risk groups have also been adopted. This study evaluated the impact of these control and prevention strategies on acute hepatitis B notification rates from 2005 through 2013. Data from the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS) revealed a steady downward trend in notification rates of acute hepatitis B. The most dramatic decline occurred among pre-adults, highlighting the benefits of EPI's policy of universal vaccination for children. However, the highest notification rates occurred among young adults of lower socio-economic status. These findings indicate the strong need to vaccinate young adults at risk for HBV infection as well as to collect risk-factor information in the NNDRS for monitoring and following up persons with acute hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunization Programme, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhifang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunization Programme, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunization Programme, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Jinren
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines