Impact of Recommendations to Suspend the Birth Dose of Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine

ContextIn July 1999, due to concerns about thimerosal content, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Public Health Service (PHS) recommended suspending hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination at birth except for mothers who had positive or unknown hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status. In September 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that hospitals resume HBV vaccination at birth with a new thimerosal-free vaccine. Whether the 2 changes in recommendations within 3 months led to less-than-optimal compliance in hospital nurseries is unknown.ObjectiveTo determine hospital HBV vaccination policy before the recommendation for delay of HBV vaccination and 1 year later.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsSurvey of all 46 hospitals with obstetric services and neonatal nurseries in Cook County, Illinois.Main Outcome MeasuresHepatitis B virus immunization practices before July 1999 and in August 2000; hospital factors associated with routine HBV immunization and compliance with AAP and PHS recommendations.ResultsBefore July 1999, 74% of surveyed hospital nurseries offered HBV vaccine to all neonates; only 39% did so in August 2000. Being located in the Chicago city limits (88% vs 57%; P = .02) and having an academic affiliation (93% vs 66%; P = .05) were positively associated with routine neonatal immunization before July 1999. Both academic affiliation and city location were associated with routine immunization in August 2000 (71% vs 25% [P = .003] and 60% vs 14% [P = .002], respectively) and with compliance with recommendations for suspension (57% vs 25% [P = .03] and 56% vs 10% [P = .001]).ConclusionsWe documented a 35% decrease in hospital nurseries that routinely offered HBV immunization 1 year after the AAP and PHS recommendations were made. Special efforts may be required to make at-birth administration of HBV vaccination universal.