Analysis on Hepatitis B Vaccine Coverage among the Population of 1～59 Years Old in Shandong Province

Objective To reveal the hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) coverage in the population of 1-59 years old in Shandong province and provide evidence for improving the strategy for hepatitis B control. Methods A cross-section survey was conducted among the population aged 1-59 year-old in Shandong province in 2006. The study population was selected by multi-stage randomly sampling method and HepB immunization history was obtained by immunization record (for children 1-14 years old) or recall. Weighted coverage rates were calculated. Results The weighted complete HepB coverage in the population 1~59 years old was [27.07%95% Confidence Internal(CI) 22.56%~31.59%] in Shandong province and was 99.66% (95% CI 99.72~100.00%), 89.95% (95% CI 87.69%~92.20%) and 13.21%(95% CI 7.78%~18.65%) in the age group of 1-4 years old, 5-14 years old and 15-59 years old, respectively. The complete HepB coverage varied signif icantly in the age groups (P0.05). No differences were found between the males and females, the rural and urban inhabitants, and among the population living in the eastern, western and central areas (P0.05). The weighted timely birth-dose HepB coverage was 65.41% (95% CI 55.56%~75.25%) in the children 1 to 14 years of age, which declined with age and reached the highest level in the children aged 1 year (93.07%; 95% CI 88.43%~97.70%). Conclusions A HepB catch- up campaign should be conducted in the elder children in Shandong province and further efforts should be made to improve HepB coverage among the high risk population for enhancement of hepatitis B control.