Hepatitis B vaccination among primary health care workers

Health care workers' immunization against hepatitis B is an essential measure to avoid occupational transmission of hepatitis B virus at primary health care centers. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of complete-series vaccination against hepatitis B, estimate the prevalence of confirmed immunity, and verify the factors associated with complete-series vaccination among primary health care workers in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil. A total of 1,249 primary health care workers participated in this study. The prevalence of complete hepatitis B vaccination was 64.61%, and 29.82% of workers indicated knowing they were immunized after taking a serological test to confirm immunity. In the adjusted analysis, complete-series vaccination was positively associated with higher level of schooling and contact with potentially infectious materials or sharps, and negatively associated with precarious employment status and current smoking. Educational measures are recommended to achieve vaccination of health workers who have not been vaccinated or have not completed the series and to inform on the need for vaccine response monitoring.     

阳春市儿童乙型肝炎疫苗接种率及其影响因素分析

目的了解阳春市儿童乙型肝炎(乙肝)疫苗接种率及其影响因素。方法2002年12月采用多阶段分层随机抽样方法,调查2001年出生的儿童乙肝疫苗接种情况。结果共调查317名儿童,乙肝疫苗全程平均接种率为71.29%,第1针及时接种率为55.52%。城镇儿童接种率为84.11%,农村为64.76%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);男性(78.65%)接种率高于女性(61.87%)(P<0.01);家庭经济收入较高者接种率高于收入低者(P<0.05),父母文化程度越高者乙肝疫苗接种率也越高(P<0.01)。未接种乙肝疫苗的主要原因认为收费过高(占52.75%),其次为不知道要接种(占35.16%)。结论阳春市儿童乙肝疫苗接种率偏低,尤其是第1针及时接种率。影响阳春市乙肝疫苗接种的主要因素为经济状况、文化水平、免疫意识及性别观念。     

Hepatitis B vaccination status among healthy adults in Germany

ObjectivesThe hepatitis B vaccination policy in Germany was intensified by the implementation of hepatitis B vaccination for adolescents in the vaccination calendar in 1995. To investigate the effect of this measure on the hepatitis B vaccination coverage of healthy adults, we analysed the hepatitis B vaccination status of blood donors. Furthermore, the reasons for vaccination and the relationship between vaccination status and age, sex, and current profession were studied.MethodUsing a standardised questionnaire, randomly incoming whole blood donors were asked for hepatitis B vaccination status, the reason for vaccination, gender, age and current profession. Multiple logistic regression analysis with vaccination status as dependent variable and age, gender and current profession as explanatory variables was performed.ResultsOverall, 1519 (22.3%) of the 6812 interviewed whole blood donors were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Younger age was significantly associated with higher acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination with already 44.1% of whole blood donors aged 18–29 years being hepatitis B immunised. Beside health care workers, teaching professions and students showed the highest hepatitis B vaccination rate. Foreign travel was nearly an equivalently important reason for hepatitis B vaccination as occupational risks.ConclusionThe high hepatitis B vaccination coverage among young and healthy adults indicates the success of the intensified hepatitis B vaccination policy since 1995. However, concentrating education measures on individuals with lower educational level and intensifying hepatitis B vaccination in the context of foreign travel could further increase the acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination.     

Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among adults--United States, 2004

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer in the United States. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended a comprehensive strategy to eliminate HBV transmission, including prevention of perinatal HBV transmission; universal vaccination of infants; catch-up vaccination of unvaccinated children and adolescents; and vaccination of unvaccinated adults at increased risk for infection. The incidence of acute hepatitis B has declined 75%, from 8.5 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 2.1 per 100,000 population in 2004, with the greatest declines (94%) among children and adolescents. Incidence remains highest among adults, who accounted for approximately 95% of the estimated 60,000 new infections in 2004. To measure hepatitis B vaccination coverage among adults, data were analyzed from the 2004 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, during 2004, 34.6% of adults aged 18-49 years reported receiving hepatitis B vaccine, including 45.4% of adults at high risk for HBV infection. To accelerate elimination of HBV transmission in the United States, public health programs and clinical care providers should implement strategies to ensure that adults at high risk are offered hepatitis B vaccine.     

Hepatitis B vaccination status among healthy adults in Germany

OBJECTIVES: The hepatitis B vaccination policy in Germany was intensified by the implementation of hepatitis B vaccination for adolescents in the vaccination calendar in 1995. To investigate the effect of this measure on the hepatitis B vaccination coverage of healthy adults, we analysed the hepatitis B vaccination status of blood donors. Furthermore, the reasons for vaccination and the relationship between vaccination status and age, sex, and current profession were studied. METHOD: Using a standardised questionnaire, randomly incoming whole blood donors were asked for hepatitis B vaccination status, the reason for vaccination, gender, age and current profession. Multiple logistic regression analysis with vaccination status as dependent variable and age, gender and current profession as explanatory variables was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 1519 (22.3%) of the 6812 interviewed whole blood donors were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Younger age was significantly associated with higher acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination with already 44.1% of whole blood donors aged 18-29 years being hepatitis B immunised. Beside health care workers, teaching professions and students showed the highest hepatitis B vaccination rate. Foreign travel was nearly an equivalently important reason for hepatitis B vaccination as occupational risks. CONCLUSION: The high hepatitis B vaccination coverage among young and healthy adults indicates the success of the intensified hepatitis B vaccination policy since 1995. However, concentrating education measures on individuals with lower educational level and intensifying hepatitis B vaccination in the context of foreign travel could further increase the acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination.     

Hepatitis vaccination among drug users

Hepatitis virus infections are traditionally a major health problem among drug users (DUs). Several factors may favor the rapid spread of hepatitis infection in this category of patients. HBV and HCV are easily transmitted through exposure to infected blood and body fluids. DUs often prepare and use drug solutions together. Many in the DU community are infected and this provides multiple opportunities for transmission to others. Many of these patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection are not aware of their infections and this facilitates the spread of the diseases. Viral hepatitis is not inevitable for DUs. Although multiple factors have prevented the development of vaccines for hepatitis C, both hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be prevented by immunization. The purpose of this overview is to summarize and discuss the hepatitis vaccination in this population.     

Hepatitis B vaccination in prisons

The opportunities and problems for hepatitis B vaccination programmes in prison settings are discussed. In particular, the advantages of modelling are stressed and an active case-finding approach is advocated. Measures for maintaining good case-holding are also discussed, and a 0, 1, 2 months vaccination regimen with 20 microg doses of vaccine is advocated for prison settings. A higher reference level for inferring adequate immunization is also recommended, with booster injections for inmates who do not meet the higher reference after a primary course of vaccination.     

Prisoners' attitudes toward Hepatitis B vaccination

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B continues to be a substantial problem in the United States despite the existence of a safe and effective vaccine. Vaccination programs for inmates could reach many high-risk individuals but little is known about U.S. inmates' willingness to accept hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination while incarcerated. The goal of this study was to assess inmates' knowledge about hepatitis B and their willingness to accept hepatitis B vaccination while incarcerated. METHODS: We interviewed 153 male and female inmates at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) using a voluntary, anonymous survey. RESULTS: Ninety-three percent of inmates said they would agree to receive the hepatitis B vaccine while incarcerated. More than half of the 30% who reported having risk factors for hepatitis B did not consider themselves to be at risk for hepatitis B and almost half (44%) of all inmates were not aware that hepatitis B can be transmitted through unprotected sex. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B vaccination programs in correctional settings are a public health priority and would be well received by the target population. Such programs would help protect the health of incarcerated persons and the communities to which they return.     

Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among Asian and Pacific Islander children--United States, 1998

Asian and Pacific Islander (API) children in the United States have high rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (1-3). To prevent these infections, hepatitis B vaccination has been recommended for these children since the vaccine was first licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in 1981 (4). Recommendations have included universal hepatitis B vaccination of API infants beginning in 1990 and catch-up vaccination for API children aged <7 years (5). These recommendations were reinforced in 1991 when hepatitis B vaccination was recommended for all infants, particularly in populations such as API children with high rates of early childhood HBV infection (6). In 1995, vaccination was recommended for unvaccinated API children aged <11 years and catch-up vaccination for children aged 11-12 years who had not received hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) (7). Series completion among API children aged 19-35 months increased from 39% in 1994 to 88% in 1997 (8). However, among older API children, hepatitis B vaccination coverage was 10% in 1995 (7). In 1998, to examine trends in hepatitis B vaccination catch-up coverage among API children born before 1994, surveys were conducted in six U.S. cities. This report summarizes the results of the surveys, which indicate varying coverage among API children and suggest a need for continued focused vaccination programs for this population.     

Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination coverage among adults with chronic liver disease

BackgroundInfection with hepatitis A and hepatitis B virus can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in persons with chronic liver disease (CLD). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends hepatitis A (HepA) and hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination for persons with CLD.MethodsData from the 2014 and 2015 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS), nationally representative, in-person interview surveys of the non-institutionalized US civilian population, were used to assess self-reported HepA (≥1 and ≥2 doses) and HepB vaccination (≥1 and ≥3 doses) coverage among adults who reported a chronic or long-term liver condition. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with HepA and HepB vaccination among adults with CLD.ResultsOverall, 19.4% and 11.5% of adults aged ≥ 18 years with CLD reported receiving ≥1 dose and ≥2 doses of HepA vaccine, respectively, compared with 14.7% and 9.1% of adults without CLD (p < .05 comparing those with and without CLD, ≥1dose). Age, education, geographic region, and international travel were associated with receipt of ≥2 doses HepA vaccine among adults with CLD. Overall, 35.7% and 29.1% of adults with CLD reported receiving ≥1 dose and ≥3 doses of HepB vaccine, respectively, compared with 30.2% and 24.7% of adults without CLD (p < .05 comparing those with and without CLD, ≥1 dose). Age, education, and receipt of influenza vaccination in the past 12 months were associated with receipt of ≥3 doses HepB vaccine among adults with CLD. Among adults with CLD and ≥10 provider visits, only 13.8% and 35.3% had received ≥2 doses HepA and ≥3 doses HepB vaccine, respectively.ConclusionsHepA and HepB vaccination among adults with CLD is suboptimal and missed opportunities to vaccinate occurred. Providers should adhere to recommendations to vaccinate persons with CLD to increase vaccination among this population.     

Hepatitis B vaccination awareness and biological risk

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus is a possible risk in persons exposed to biological risk at work. Vaccination is the only prevention against infection. OBJECTIVES: A population of 1,408 employees of the University of Padua was investigated to define the immunological status for HBV and degree of awareness to hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: The subjects were subdivided according to sex, age (< or = 40 or > 40 years old), level of education (college graduates or lower), and the extent of biological risk (no risk, low or high risk). Clinical history questionnaires were used and measurement of hepatitis B markers was carried out. RESULTS: The results showed that only 30.5% of the subjects had been vaccinated; among these, 90.2% showed a measurable level of anti-HBs antibodies, 8.2% showed anti-HBs antibodies lower than 10 IU/L, and 1.6% showed positive markers of previous infection. However, among non-vaccinated subjects 13.4% were positive for previous infection; in all subjects, prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was 9.8%. The awareness to hepatitis B vaccination was altogether very low (30.5%), but females (44.2%), subjects less than 40 years of age (43.5%), college graduates (34.1%), and high risk exposed personnel (57.7%) were more likely to comply compared to male subjects (odds ratio 2.53), subjects more than 40 years of age (odds ratio 3.57), non-college graduates (odds ratio 1.65), or low risk exposed (odds ratio 13.42). CONCLUSIONS: The variables considered appeared to influence awareness to vaccination. Owing to low awareness, an information campaign was started and 90% of the invited subjects were immunized.     

乙型肝炎疫苗接种前不筛查是安全的

本文对乙型肝炎疫苗接种前不筛查是否安全问题进行了讨论,从乙型肝炎疫苗的成分、感染和未感染过乙型肝炎病毒者接种乙型肝炎疫苗的结果表明,乙型肝炎疫苗接种前不进行筛查是安全的。     

Hepatitis B, vaccination and healthcare workers

Hepatitis B viral infection is transmitted in adults by transfer of body fluids containing the virus. The outcomes following infection can be significant in terms of both health and employment. It is for these reasons that effective preventative health care is the goal of occupational health practitioners. This evidence-based review of the literature provides a basis upon which practice can be established and highlights some of the issues that may confront practitioners of the future.