Surveillance of the effects of preventing hepatitis B on the universal vaccination of newborns against hepatitis B in Fenghua in the past seventeen years

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination among newborns 17 years ago. Methods The data on epidemic of hepatitis B in Fenghua, categorized into the early period (1991-1993), the intermediate period (1994 - 2000) and the recent period (2001 - 2007), were comparatively studied. The positive rates of hepatitis B virus surface antigens (HBsAg) and surface antibodies (anti-HBs) in 1992, two years after the vaccination of newborns, and in 2006 after the passage of seventeen years since the vaccination, were compared. Results The HBsAg positive rate and incidence of hepatitis B dropped 89.49% and 87.70%, respectively, among children younger than 15 years. The anti-HBs positive rate increased 105% among children aged 1- 4 years. For children aged 1-4 years, 5-9 years and 10-14 years groups, the incidence rates of hepatitis B decreased by 85.00%, 66.05% and 30.20% in the intermediate period as compared to those in the early period, and decreased by 50.27%, 73.64% and 58.72% in the recent period as compared to those in the intermediate period. Conclusion The positive rates of HBsAg and incidence of hepatitis B had been significantly reduced due to universal vaccination for newborns against hepatitis B. Therefore, it is highly recommended to initiate booster inoculation against hepatitis for children and universal hepatitis B vaccination among youths aged 15-30 years clinging to the national planning of hepatitis B prevention and treatment.