Testing for hepatitis B virus alone does not increase vaccine coverage in non-immunized persons.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global health concern.
• Vaccination is the primary method for preventing HBV infection.
• Identifying effective strategies to increase vaccination coverage is crucial, especially in low-prevalent regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if hepatitis B virus (HBV) testing could serve as a gateway for vaccinating non-immunized individuals.
• To assess vaccination coverage following HBV testing in a low-prevalent country (France).
• To identify factors influencing HBV vaccination initiation after screening.

Main Methods:

• A multi-center HBV testing campaign was conducted in Paris, France.
• Non-immunized subjects were identified and contacted 3-9 months post-testing to determine vaccination status.
• Vaccination coverage was analyzed using per-protocol and intent-to-treat methods.

Main Results:

• Of 4924 subjects, 1215 (24.7%) were non-immunized and eligible.
• Only 11.0% (per-protocol) or 8.2% (intent-to-treat) initiated HBV vaccination after screening.
• Factors associated with vaccination included origin from endemic countries, limited healthcare coverage, and being men who have sex with men. Key barriers were delayed vaccination, lack of desire, and physician عدم proposal.

Conclusions:

• HBV vaccination uptake following HBV screening was notably low.
• Low coverage is primarily attributed to physician-patient motivation and organizational issues.
• Enhancing vaccination coverage requires emphasizing its importance at an organizational level.