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Vaccination against hepatitis B virus among people who inject drugs - A 20year experience from a Swedish needle
M Alanko Blomé1, P Björkman1, L Flamholc1
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Infectious Disease Research Unit, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Background:
People who inject drugs (PWID) are at particular risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) acquisition, but often have poor access or adherence to HBV vaccination. Vaccination against HBV has been offered at a major Swedish needle exchange program (NEP) since 1994. The aim of this study was to evaluate vaccine completion and response rates, and the effect of sequential booster doses to non-responders to the standard vaccination schedule.
Methods:
PWID enrolled in the NEP 1994-2013, without serological markers for HBV at baseline (negative for HBsAg/anti-HBc/anti-HBs), were offered a three-dose standard intramuscular vaccination schedule (Engerix®-B, GSK, 20μg/mL, intended to be received at months 0, 1 and 6). Vaccination response was defined as protective levels of anti-HBs (⩾10mIU/mL). Up to three booster doses were then offered for non-responders, each followed by anti-HBs testing.
Results:
HBV data was available for 2352 identifiable individuals at NEP enrolment, of whom 1516 (64.5%) had no markers for previous HBV exposure or vaccination. Vaccination was initiated for 1142 (75.3%) individuals and 898 (59.2%) completed the standard vaccination schedule. Post-vaccination anti-HBs levels were available from 800 individuals, with 598 (74.8%) responding to the basic vaccination schedule. After up to three booster doses a total of 676 (84.5%) individuals achieved protective anti-HBs levels. Non-response to vaccination was associated with higher age and anti-HCV positivity (p<0.001). Eighteen incident cases of HBV infection were observed among vaccine non-responders, as well as 30 cases among those who had not completed vaccination.
Conclusion:
We demonstrate the feasibility of including HBV vaccination in the services offered by a NEP, with completion of vaccination in a majority of HBV-susceptible PWID. The response to HBV vaccination among PWID was relatively low; however, the addition of up to three booster doses improved the response rate from 74.8 to 84.5%.
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