Occupational hepatitis B remains a threat to healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide, even with availability of an effective vaccine. Despite limited resources for public health, the Czech Republic instituted a mandatory vaccination program for HCWs in 1983. Annual incidence rates of acute hepatitis B were followed prospectively through 1995.

A sample of 1 000 individuals of the urban and rural population of CSR covering all age groups was tested for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HBs. The rates for antigenaemia and antibody prevalence as determined by the RIA method were 1.5% and 12.5%, respectively. The antigen subtype adw was identified. HBsAg findings were significantly more frequent among the urban population, while the prevalence of antibody was comparable in both population types and both sexes. HBeAg was not detected in any case, anti HBe in one.