Sero-epidemiological survey of child immunization of Hepatitis B vaccine populations in Hainan Province

Objective To understand the current infectious status of hepatitis B virus in childen of Hainan Province and evaluate the effect of immunization with hepatitis B vaccine after implementation of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Methods The PPS sampling method was use to investigate the target children; The ELISA method was used to detect HBsAg and HBsAb. Results A total of 1 305 children in 25 primary shools of 166 villages were surveyed and HBsAg carrying rates were 6.5% and 1.4% in children born before 2003 and born after popularization of vaccination in 2003, a drop of 5.1%. The rates of first and timely immunization and full course vaccination in children born after 2003 varied along with the variations of regional economic levels being 89.7% and 100%, an increase of 44% and 28% compared to that borne before 2003., respectively. Showing a significant difference(χ2=15.66, P0.005).There were 9 HBsAg carrying chidren born afer 2003 and all their mothers were hepaitis B virus carriers. Conclusion Significnant achievements have be obtained since the coverage of haptitis B vaccine by children immunization pragram in Hainan Proviince to have effectively protectied the newborns, interrupted the transmission from omthers to babies (fetus) and reduced the HbsAg carrying rate in children under age of 7 years.