10 year assessment of infant hepatitis B vaccination program, in the Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia)

Objectives of the study: To evaluate the decrease of hepatitis B prevalence in New Caledonia 10 years after the implementation of a neonatal vaccination program and discuss the need of any booster in preadolescents. Method: A survey was conducted in the Loyalty Islands, involving 593 children aged 8-11 years. Serological profiles were determined using three parameters: antibodies to core and surface antigens and HBs Ag. Results: The vaccine coverage rate is 93 and 89% of the children are protected against hepatitis B. However, 8% of them did have contact with the virus and 1.3% are carriers. Thirty-eight percent of the vaccinated children had their first injection later than the age of 3 months. Conclusion: This study attests that the neonatal immunisation is accepted and followed. The prevalence reduction is not as great as expected, probably due to excess delay in primary vaccination. Hepatitis B eradication could be achieved in New Caledonia by starting immunisation at birth, and by implementing a global catch-up program among preadolescents. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.