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National infrastructures for delivery of hepatitis B vaccination to different age groups
1Department of Paediatrics, Stadtspital Triemli, Zurich, Switzerland.
Insights
Introducing hepatitis B vaccination for adolescents is crucial before sexual activity. While infant vaccination is common, adolescent immunization programs require careful planning, though successful models exist in Europe.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Hepatitis B vaccination is essential before sexual activity.
- Infant vaccination programs are established in many regions, but adolescent programs are less common.
- Targeting adolescents for vaccination presents unique challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and success of adolescent hepatitis B vaccination programs.
- To identify effective strategies for implementing hepatitis B vaccination in early adolescents.
- To compare infant and adolescent vaccination approaches for hepatitis B.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing infant and adolescent vaccination programs globally.
- Analysis of successful rubella and hepatitis B vaccination campaigns in adolescents.
- Assessment of developmental considerations for adolescent immunization.
Main Results:
- Infant hepatitis B vaccination programs are widely implemented.
- Adolescent hepatitis B vaccination is less established but has successful precedents (e.g., Italy, Spain).
- High immunization coverage (80-85%) achieved in UK rubella vaccination campaigns for 14-year-olds.
Conclusions:
- Integrating hepatitis B vaccine into infant programs is generally feasible.
- Adolescent hepatitis B vaccination requires tailored strategies and further consideration.
- Successful adolescent immunization models demonstrate high coverage is achievable.
Abstract:
If hepatitis B vaccination is to be introduced into a universal vaccination programme, it must be given before young people become sexually active. Two age groups are of main interest: infants and early adolescents. In Australia, North America and Europe, vaccination programmes for infants are well established but not yet for adolescents. From a developmental point of view, targeting adolescents seems to be a demanding task. Nevertheless, there are examples of successful approaches: e.g. rubella vaccination in the UK, where since its introduction in 1976 the immunization coverage among 14-year-olds has remained high at 80-85%, or the more recent hepatitis B strategies in Italy and Spain, where young adolescents are included with high success rates. In summary, whereas the inclusion of HBV vaccine in the infant immunization programme is not a problem in most counties, the approach to adolescents needs more thought.