Estimated impact of the national hepatitis B immunization program on acute viral hepatitis B among adolescents in Republic of Korea
10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0321
- Author:
Chungman CHAE
1
;
Sangwoo TAK
Author Information
1. Division of Risk Assessment, Bureau of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
2023;14(2):138-145
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives:We aimed to estimate the impact of the national hepatitis B immunization program on the incidence of acute hepatitis B infection among adolescents in South Korea.
Methods:We estimated the counterfactual incidence rate of reported acute hepatitis B among adolescents from 2016 to 2020 compared to the assumption that the national hepatitis B immunization program for children had not been implemented since 1995. The impact of the national hepatitis B immunization program for adolescents was measured by estimating the absolute risk reduction and averted acute hepatitis B infections among adolescents from 2016 to 2020 attributed to the national immunization program.
Results:The relative risk reduction of acute hepatitis B among adolescents was estimated to be 83.5% after implementing the national hepatitis B immunization program. The incidence rate of reported acute hepatitis B infections among adolescents decreased from 0.39 to 0.06 per 100,000 person-years, and 43 acute hepatitis B infections, including 17 symptomatic cases, were averted annually from 2016 to 2020 by the national hepatitis B immunization program.
Conclusion:The national hepatitis B immunization program for children was effective in preventing acute hepatitis B infection among adolescents in South Korea.
