Hepatitis B vaccination status in an at-risk adult population: long-term immunity but insufficient coverage

Abstract

In France, hepatitis B (HB) vaccine has been offered to all infants since 1994, and was proposed to all children aged 11 years from 1994 to 1998. Nevertheless, HB vaccine hesitancy may result in low vaccination coverage in present-day at-risk adults. We aimed to determine HB vaccination coverage in adults attending a free testing center for sexually transmitted infections (STI). As part of routine care, three classes of data were anonymously collected from attendees over a 3-month period: results of HB serologic tests; date and number of past anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization(s) (if any) according to health records; and the risk of STI and blood-transmitted infections (BTI). The study included 735 participants (age 27.9 ± 9.2; 59.9% men). According to available health records (341 participants), 56.6% had received at least three and 67.2% at least one vaccine injection(s); 57.7% had received their last injection between 1994 and 1998, reflecting the strong vaccine policy during these years. Serologic testing (in 705 participants) showed evidence of a past or active HBV infection for 33 participants; of the remaining patients, 55.3% had anti-HBs antibody titers ≥10 IU/L. This rate was not higher in participants considered at risk for STI/BTI. Of the participants who received their last vaccine injection more than 15 years previously, 90.5% had anti-HBs antibody concentrations ≥10 and 60.3% ≥100 IU/mL. HB vaccination coverage is low in this population. Most of the vaccinated participants were immunized between 1994 and 1998, suggesting a failure of catch-up immunization of adolescents and at-risk adults. Long-term seroprotection persisted among vaccinated participants.

Observational study of vaccination in cancer patients: How can vaccine coverage be improved?

“…For young adults, immunocompromised or not, HBV vaccination coverage is insufficient with a rate of only 55.3% [22,23]. This vaccine is nonetheless recommended in cancer patients as in the general population, with the same objective of 95% vaccination rate.…”

Vaccinations and Chronic Diseases: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-Reported Adherence among Patients in Italy

“…Several studies have assessed the knowledge and the acceptability of recommended vaccinations in patients with chronic conditions, focusing mainly on single vaccines [17][18][19][20][21][22], but no such studies have been reported in Italy to the best of our knowledge, and the reasons for the low coverage have not been well investigated [10,11,21]. Therefore, the aims of this survey were to evaluate the knowledge of and attitudes and adherence to recommended vaccinations among patients with chronic diseases in Italy.…”

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Parents towards Recommended Adult Vaccinations: An Explanatory Survey in the Geographic Area of Naples, Italy

“…Several vaccination programs have been implemented all over the world for the individuals who due to epidemiological, health, occupational, or behavioral conditions are at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases [1]. Among these groups, it is well known that adults, especially those older or with chronic health conditions, are at higher risk of severe illness or complications from infection with rates of vaccination coverage also considerably lower than those established by the objectives of the immunization programs [2,3,4,5].…”