Hepatitis B vaccination of high-risk neonates in the South West Region of New South Wales: evaluation of program coverage.

ABSTRACT

The authors evaluated the high-risk neonate hepatitis B vaccination program in the South West Region of New South Wales. Infants from ethnic groups with a high rate of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and infants of HBV carrier mothers were targeted. The program identified 323 infants born between October 1987 and December 1990 who were at high risk of HBV infection, of whom 68.7 per cent were Aboriginal. Overall, 194 infants (60.1 per cent) received three doses of vaccine. Although the number of infants identified increased from 46 in 1988 to 119 in 1990, the proportion fully vaccinated each year did not increase, remaining at around 60 per cent. The authors stress the importance of promoting the program and educating the high-risk groups and health professionals involved, in order to improve vaccination coverage.