Evaluation of the hepatitis B antenatal screening and neonatal immunization program in Amsterdam, 1993-1998

In the enhanced antenatal hepatitis B screening and neonatal immunization p rogram in Amsterdam, 691 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive expec tant mothers were reported in the period 1993-1998. The coverage of the scr eening was calculated at 97%. HBsAg-prevalence was high in women from Ghana and South-East Asia, and lowest in Dutch women. Hepatitis B immune globuli n (HB g) was administered within 24h to 95.9% of the neonates; 99.7% comple ted the vaccination series. About 6 weeks after the third vaccination the t iter antiHBs was greater than or equal to 100IU/I in 85% of children; in 12 % the titers were 10-100IU/I; 3% had titers < 10IU/I, of whom 3/521 initial ly had HBsAg. Low birth weight (OR 3.77), being a boy (OR 1.64) and country of origin were predictors of low postvaccination titers. Coordinated by 0. 5 full time equivalent (fte) additional staff, the program was relatively c heap and successful. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.