Hepatitis A Vaccine Effectiveness and Seropositivity Among 1- to 18-Year-Old Children: 10-Year Results

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine and compare hepatitis A seropositivity in children. Materials and Methods: The study included patients aged 0-18 years who presented to our hospital and were examined for hepatitis A virus serology between 2009 and 2018. Patients were separated into 2 groups: those who presented before (group I) or after (group II) September 2012, when the mandatory hepatitis A vaccination program came into effect in Turkey. Results: In total, 34 809 patients were evaluated: 20 111 (57.8%) males and 14 698 (42.2%) females, with a mean age of 8.2 ± 5.3 years. Anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M positivity was observed in 3.3% of patients, most often in January and from January to April when the region experiences more rainfall. Anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M positivity decreased dramatically in group II compared to group I (0.26% vs. 7.42%, P < .001). Anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G positivity was observed in 53.8% of all patients. A statistically significant increase was determined in anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G seropositivity in group II compared to group I (81.9% vs. 42.1%, P < .001). Conclusion : Hepatitis A virus infection in Turkey decreased dramatically following improvements to infrastructure and sanitation and implementation of the vaccination program. This study is the most comprehensive report of hepatitis A seropositivity in Turkey to date.

Hepatitis A seroprevalence, vaccination status and demographic determinants in children and adolescents in Germany, 2014–2017, a population-based study

“…Historically a high proportion of people with migration background in Germany had roots in Turkey, Mediterranean countries and regions of former Yugoslavia, in many of which HA endemicity has decreased in the last decade. Turkey and Greece for example have implemented routine HA vaccination programs in 2012 and 2008, respectively, with high uptake 15 , 16 , resulting in a lower risk of HAV acquisition and importation to Germany. Effects of changing migration patterns and circumstances in ancestral countries warrant further epidemiological investigation and monitoring.…”

Gaziantep İlindeki Hepatit A Seroprevalansı ve Endemik Değişim

“…2017 verilerine göre, akut hepatit A insidansının özellikle İç Anadolu ve Doğu Anadolu bölgelerinde daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir (4). Ülkemizde, seroprevelans verilerini gösteren sağlık çalışanları, öğrenciler veya çocukluk yaş gruplarıyla yapılan çalışmalar mevcuttur (5)(6)(7)(8). Ancak ileri yaşlarda geçirilen HAV enfeksiyonunun morbidite ve mortaliteyi artırması nedeniyle, toplumun genelini yansıtacak şekilde yapılacak seroprevalans çalışmaları ile erişkin aşılama hedefleri belirlenilebilecektir.…”