head JofIMAB
Journal of IMAB
Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2024, vol. 30, issue2
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2024302.5517
Published online: 14 May 2024

Original article
J of IMAB. 2024 Apr-Jun;30(2):5517-5521
HEPATITIS B VACCINATION STATUS AMONG A TARGET GROUP BORN IN 1992-2000: A STUDY FROM BULGARIA
Aneliya Gotseva1ORCID logoCorresponding Autoremail, Desislava Velcheva2ORCID logo, Emilia Naseva3ORCID logo,
1) Laboratory of Virology, Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
2) MDL “Cibalab”, Sofia, Bulgaria.
3) Department of Health Economics, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University - Sofia, Bulgaria.

ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of stress among students of various health Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and a leading cause of chronic liver disease. Vaccination has a key role in hepatitis B prevention. Compulsory immunization for all healthy newborns was introduced in Bulgaria in 1992 as part of the WHO global strategy.  
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the extent of post-vaccination seroprotection among persons born in 1992 – 2000 who received recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
Material/methods: A total of 923 serum samples of a target group of vaccinated individuals (412 males and 511 females) at a mean age of 23.0±2.7 years were tested over a two-year period (2018-2019). The quantitative analysis of hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) levels was performed by CLIA using a LIAISON® anti-HBs II quantitative diagnostic kit (Dia Sorin, Italy).
Results: All 923 individuals included in the study were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative. Protective anti-HBs titers ranging from 11 to >1000 mIU/mL were found in 45.3% of them. The sex distribution of the tested subjects varied significantly between years (p=0.023). The difference in protective anti-HBs levels between the two sexes was non-significant (p>0.05). There was a weak negative correlation between year of birth and anti-HBs titer (Pearson's r=0.351, p<0.001).
Conclusions: The results of this large study conducted among subjects immunized against hepatitis B in childhood showed varying levels of post-vaccination seroprotection. On average, 23 years after universal immunization, 54.7% of the study cohort had no protective levels of anti-HBs (negative or equivocal result).

Keywords: hepatitis B virus, hepatitis B antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen, vaccines, vaccine-preventable diseases,

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Please cite this article as: Gotseva A, Velcheva D, Naseva E. Hepatitis B vaccination status among a target group born in 1992-2000: a study from Bulgaria. J of IMAB. 2024 Apr-Jun;30(2):5517-5521. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2024302.5517]

Corresponding AutorCorrespondence to: Aneliya Gotseva, MD, PhD, Laboratory of Virology, Military Medical Academy, Sofia; 1, Georgi Sofiyski Str., Sofia, Bulgaria; E-mail: anelialg@abv.bg

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Received: 17 January 2024
Published online: 14 May 2024

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