AD HOC SURVEY OF HEPATITIS-B VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IN NEWBORNS OF HBSAG POSITIVE MOTHERS AND IN 12-YEAR-OLD SUBJECTS IN SOUTHERN ITALY

The ongoing vaccination campaign against hepatitis B (HB) for newborns of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive mothers and for 12-ye ar-old subjects was evaluated in Naples, Italy, an area of relatively high HB endemicity. Subjects were recruited by a random sampling proce dure. Among 2060 pregnant women studied, 1887 (91.6%) were screened fo r HBsAg. HBsAg prevalence was 2.5% (47/1887). Immunoprophylaxis accord ing to the protocol (immunoglobulins within 24 h plus vaccine within 7 days after birth) was administered in 26 (55.3%) out of the 47 newbor ns of HBsAg positive mothers; vaccination was delayed (later than 7 da ys after birth) for 14 (29.8%) infants; in the remaining seven newborn s (14.9%) were not given immunoglobulins at birth. All infants were va ccinated. Out of the 1000 adolescents sampled 130 (13%) were not found due to an inaccurate census list; 727 (83.3%) of the 870 investigated had received a three-dose HB vaccine series. Overall, the HB vaccinat ion program in Italy is working well. However, further efforts should be made to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of the campaign. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.