Impact of hepatitis B immunisation as part of the EPI

Since 1992, hepatitis B vaccine has been an integrated part of Thailand's e xpanded programme on immunisation (EPI). Based on the data from five repres entative provinces, we have evaluated its impact on the countrywide prevale nce of HBV infection and carrier rate. The population studied comprised 400 -488 healthy and immune-competent, subjects per area. The subjects' ages ra nged from 6 months to 18 years. We examined their sera for viral hepatitis markers using commercially available test kits and established the coverage rate of hepatitis B vaccination after its inclusion into the EPI to be 71. 2-94.3%. The number of individuals undergoing the complete course of vaccin ations had increased four-fold. Consequently, only 0.7% of the children bor n after the implementation of this the novel EPI strategy were HBV carriers . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.