The Effect of Vaccine Policy on HAV Seropositivity of Syrian Immigrants and Local Turkish People

Introduction: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection poses a significant public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. This study investigated the effect of vaccination policies on the HAV seropositivity of Syrian immigrants and local Turkish people. Methods: The antiHAV antibodies of 6007 patients, including 5613 (93.4%) Turks and 394 (6.6%) Syrian suspected of HAV infection, were analyzed by the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) method. Results: In our study, total antiHAV positivity was higher in Turkish patients than in Syrian patients in the 09 age group, while in the 1019, 2029, and 3039 age groups, the rate was higher in Syrians. AntiHAV seropositivity was significantly higher in Turkish male patients than female patients. The young adult and adult age groups of Turks were more at risk of HAV infection, i.e., when the disease is symptomatic. Conclusion: Vaccination of young and young adult seronegative Turks and ensuring Syrian childrenchr( 39 )s participation in the routine vaccination program implemented in our country is a requirement for preventing HAV infection.