Coverage and Long-Term Immunogenicity of Hepatitis B Vaccine in Healthcare Workers

Health-care workers (HCWs) are considered as high-risk groups of acquiring hepatitis B infection due to their occupational exposure. Hepatitis B vaccination is the best protective method. The current study aimed to evaluate the coverage and long-term immunity in HCWs and the impact of the occupational health department to improve the performance of a vaccination program. This retrospective descriptive study was conducted in two academic hospitals of Tehran, Iran, in the occupational health department from October 2012 to September 2013. Of 665 subjects, 620 (93%) received complete series of hepatitis B vaccine; anti-HBs level was adequate in 94.4% of vaccinated HCWs. The rate of non-responders after revaccination was below 1%. Nurses were significantly more likely to have protective anti-HBs levels than other groups (odds ratio = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.05 - 4.19).There was no significant association between demographic characteristics and immunity responses. The time between vaccination and the time of anti-HBs level ranged from 0 to 23 years. It was found that anti-HBs did not decline over the time. The hepatitis B vaccination coverage was more than many studies in other countries. It seems that the vaccination program of the current study had sufficient efficacy for medical surveillance of HCWs in the academic hospitals under study. The essential point for success at a vaccination program was good performance of occupational health department.