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Title
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Universal hepatitis B vaccination in Belgium : impact on serological markers 3 and 7 years after implementation
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Author
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Abstract
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| Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be eliminated by effective universal vaccination. In Belgium, a free-of-charge HBV vaccination programme in infants with catch-up in adolescents was introduced in 1999. To evaluate the effects in <20-year-olds, seroprotection (anti-HBs >11 mIU/ml, according to the assay) and markers of infection (anti-HBc, HBsAg) were assessed in 2443 residual sera collected 78 years after implementation of the programme. The maximal prevalence of a solely anti-HBs seroprotective (vaccinated) serostatus was 82·9% at age 1 year and 60·5% at age 13 years. A clear increase was found in age cohorts targeted by the campaign after a similar serosurvey conducted 4 years earlier. The prevalence of HBV infection remained unchanged at a low level (1·8% in 2006) similar to pre-vaccination data (19931994). We conclude that universal HBV vaccination has achieved overall high levels of vaccine-induced immunity, despite regional variations, which may give rise to pockets of susceptible young adults in the future. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Epidemiology and infection. - London, 1987, currens
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Publication
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London
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2014
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ISSN
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0950-2688
[print]
1469-4409
[online]
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DOI
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10.1017/S0950268813001064
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Volume/pages
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142
:2
(2014)
, p. 251-261
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ISI
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000332524300005
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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