American Journal of Public Health
Volume 106, Issue 8, 2016, Pages 1460-1462

Increasing hepatitis B vaccine prevalence among refugee children arriving in the United States, 2006-2012 (Article)

Yun K.* , Urban K. , Mamo B. , Matheson J. , Payton C. , Scott K.C. , Song L. , Stauffer W.M. , Stone B.L. , Young J. , Lin H.
  • a Policy Lab, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3535 Market St, Room 1539, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States, Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
  • b Refugee Health Program, Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, United States
  • c Refugee Health Program, Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, United States
  • d Refugee Health Program, Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, United States
  • e Refugee Health Program, Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, United States
  • f Family and Community Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • g Policy Lab, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3535 Market St, Room 1539, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States, Healthcare Analytics Unit, Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, United States
  • h Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
  • i Refugee Health Program, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, United States
  • j General Pediatrics, Denver Health and Hospitals, Denver, CO, United States
  • k Division of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, United States

Abstract

Objectives. To determine whether the addition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine to national immunization programs improved vaccination rates among refugee children, a marginalized population with limited access to care. Methods.The sample included 2291 refugees younger than 19 years who completed HBV screening after arrival in the United States. Children were categorized by having been born before or after the addition of the 3-dose HBV vaccine to their birth country's national immunization program. The outcome was serological evidence of immunization. Results. The odds of serological evidence of HBV immunization were higher for children born after the addition of HBV vaccine to their birth country's national immunization program (adjusted odds ratio = 2.54; 95% confidence interval = 2.04, 3.15). Conclusions. National HBV vaccination programs have contributed to the increase in HBV vaccination coverage observed among US-bound refugee children. Public Health Implications. Ongoing public health surveillance is needed to ensure that vaccine rates are sustained among diverse, conflict-affected, displaced populations. © 2013 American Public Health Association.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee human Refugees statistics and numerical data Public Health Surveillance United States Young Adult Humans Adolescent male preschool child female Infant preventive health service Child, Preschool immunology prevalence Retrospective Studies blood Hepatitis B Vaccines global health hepatitis B vaccine hepatitis B surface antigen Immunization Programs retrospective study Hepatitis B Surface Antigens Hepatitis B Antibodies Child hepatitis B antibody health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84978208772&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2016.303203&partnerID=40&md5=e7bdecff9c35c3a4607081c2afdd114a
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303203
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English