Hepatitis B vaccination among Vietnamese-American children in a Boston community clinic

This manuscript describes one community health center s efforts to provide catch-up immunization for hepatitis B for Vietnamese Americans aged 7 to 17.

A chart review of 151 Vietnamese-American children seen at the health center was conducted in Spring, 2001. Letters were sent to notify parents of their children's immunization status. One month later, the investigators attempted to contact the parents by phone. The interviews were done to conduct a survey about hepatitis B virus (HBV), and to encourage parents whose children needed further follow-up to do so.

Chart review revealed that 2% (n=3) of the patients were chronically infected with HBV, and 28% (n=42) were known to be already immune due to prior exposure. Thirteen patients had either moved or were obtaining care elsewhere. Of those needing vaccination (n=93), 76 (82%) completed the series of three vaccines. Of the remaining 17 patients needing further follow-up, 9 were vaccinated in the community clinic, for a 91% vaccination rate (85 of 93). For this survey, a 63% survey response rate was achieved among the patients' parents (55 of 88 eligible households). Of parents reporting that their children had a hepatitis B vaccination (HepB), study investigators were unable to confirm 25% by chart review. Although letters were sent regarding their children's HBV status, only 71% reported having heard of HBV, and 60% reported having heard of HepB vaccine. The children's receipt the HepB vaccine was not significantly associated with the parents' having heard of HBV or HepB vaccination, the parents' length of time in the United States, their health insurance status, or their level of education.

These findings suggest that parents need more education about HBV, and that the information they provide about their children's vaccination status may not be reliable.