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A hepatitis B vaccination programme for inner metropolitan Sydney neonates
Author(s) -
Reznik Robert B
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1991.tb142180.x
Subject(s) - vaccination , medicine , metropolitan area , population , hepatitis b , pediatrics , carriage , demography , family medicine , environmental health , immunology , pathology , sociology
Objective: To review the effectiveness of a hepatitis B vaccination programme for high risk infants within a mobile urban population. Design: A follow‐up study of 1429 infants enrolled consecutively in the programme from September 1987 to December 1988. Setting: The programme was established in early childhood centres within inner metropolitan Sydney, an area where 30% of residents were born in non‐English speaking countries and where doubts had previously been expressed about the efficacy of vaccination. Participants: Neonates born to mothers who were surface antigen positive, born in selected countries with a 5% prevalence of surface antigen carriage, Aboriginal or intravenous drug users. Outcome measure: Documented vaccination given by early childhood centre nurses. Some adjustment was made for parents’ reports of vaccination given elsewhere. Results: Two vaccinations were given to 87% and three to 73% of these infants. If we include vaccinations apparently given elsewhere we estimate that 92% may have been fully protected. Conclusion: The programme produced high rates of compliance with vaccinations within a population where the delivery of such a service was thought to be difficult. Experience with the current State policy for hepatitis B vaccination indicates that it may not optimally reduce the pool of surface antigen carriers within our community.