title: Hepatitis B screening and vaccination: how does a Sexual Health service measure up?
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a vaccine-preventable disease. Sexual health clinics in New South Wales see a high caseload of populations at risk of HBV, and thus screening and vaccination are part of routine care. Uptake of screening and vaccination at Sydney Sexual Health Centre was assessed and it was found that among 1577 new patients with an elevated risk of HBV infection, 864 (55%) were potentially susceptible. Of those susceptible, the majority were screened (76%) and approximately one-third (35%) were found to be eligible for vaccination. The majority (83%) initiated vaccination. Of concern, however, is that incremental gaps between initiation and completion of the vaccine course resulted in an overall HBV vaccine coverage of 26% among those HBV susceptible.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Sexual Health Centre, PO Box 1614, Sydney City, NSW 2001, Australia.
authors.forename: Ruthy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McIver
authors.affiliation: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Amalie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dyda
authors.affiliation: Sydney Sexual Health Centre, PO Box 1614, Sydney City, NSW 2001, Australia.
authors.forename: Vickie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.affiliation: Sydney Sexual Health Centre, PO Box 1614, Sydney City, NSW 2001, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McNulty