Assessment of seroepidemic conditions of hepatitis B virus among people under 29 years of age and evaluation of the hepatitis B vaccine after 22 years in Jiangsu Province, China
Abstract Background This study aims to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics and variational trends following a hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) inoculation programme carried out in children over the last 22 years in Jiangsu province. It also aims to evaluate the effect of hepatitis B vaccine immunisation and to analyse the influential of HBsAg positive carriers. Finally, the study also provides reliable data and a baseline for adjusting future prevention and intervention strategies in Jiangsu province. Methods The incidence rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Jiangsu province from 2004 to 2014 were obtained from the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS). A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 3,002 subjects aged 1-29 years across 13 hepatitis B virus monitoring points throughout the province, which had been classified as either urban or rural. HBV was assessed from venous blood samples using Abbott microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) kits (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois). Results HBV incidence in the 1-29 age group showed a significant downward trend since 2004 (P<0.001). Serological assessments showed that the prevalence values of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in the 1-29 age group were 1.20% and 5.33%, respectively. And 66.89% tested positive for the hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). The HBsAg positive rate among participants was significantly lower in subjects who had been vaccinated than in those who had not (0.46% vs 14.93%, p<0.0001). Among persons who had received the full three-dose vaccine regimen, 90.93% received the first dose of the HBV vaccine within 24 hours of the baby’s birth. In this same group, the prevalence rates of HBsAg and anti-HBc were 0.05% and 0.95%, respectively, and the HBV infection rate decreased significantly after 2006. Conclusions The overall rate of Hepatitis B vaccinations and vaccinations administered within 24 hours of the baby’s birth have continuously improved since the HepB vaccine was integrated into the immunisation programme in Jiangsu province. Hepatitis B prevention and control works in the target population has achieved remarkable results.