Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2023 Apr;14(2):138-145. 10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0321.

Estimated impact of the national hepatitis B immunization program on acute viral hepatitis B among adolescents in Republic of Korea

• Chae C
• Tak S

• KMID: 2542100
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0321

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.

Keyword

Adolescent; Hepatitis B; Immunization programs; Republic of Korea