Abstract
Background: In 1991, a mass immunization campaign against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) for children and teenagers was introduced in Italy. This study evaluated the impact of the immunization campaign on the incidence and modes of HBV transmission. Method: Acute HBV cases of viral hepatitis were reported to the National Surveillance System (SEIEVA). Hepatitis A cases reported to the same system were used as controls to calculate the adjusted odds ratios and the population attributable risk for potential risk factors. Results: The incidence of acute HBV declined from 5.0 in 1990 to 0.4 in 2019 per 100,000 population. The fall was almost total in people targeted by the campaign: in 2019, zero cases (100% reduction) in the age-group 0–14 years and 0.1 cases per 100,000 population (99.4% reduction) in the age-group 15–24 years were reported. In the decade 2010–2019, nearly one-fifth (19.3%) of cases occurred in foreigners. Intravenous drug use is no longer a risk factor (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.5–1.02). Beauty treatments, risky sexual exposure, and household contact with an HBsAg carrier were found to be independent predictors of acute hepatitis B. Conclusions: The HB vaccination campaign proved effective in minimising acute HBV in Italy. Control of the infection is close to being reached for the first time in Europe.
Highlights
In 1991, Italy was the first European country to introduce mandatory vaccination against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) for 3-month-old infants and for 12-year-old children
The decrease was nearly total in the age group targeted by the vaccination campaign: 0 cases in the age group 0–14 (100% reduction) and 0.1 cases per 100,000 population (99.4% reduction) in subjects 15–24 years old (Figure 1)
The present findings highlight the effectiveness of the HB vaccination campaign on the incidence of acute hepatitis B in Italy
Summary
In 1991, Italy was the first European country to introduce mandatory vaccination against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) for 3-month-old infants and for 12-year-old children (limited to the first 12 years of the campaign for the latter category). In 2004, the vaccination of 12-year-old adolescents ended, whereas the program for infants was maintained. The vaccination program included the mandatory screening of pregnant women for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), in order to administer active-passive immunization to newborns of positive mothers. It recommended the vaccine for groups at high risk of infection (including households of chronic HBsAg carriers and intravenous drug users)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
