Vaccine
Volume 32, Issue 48, 2014, Pages 6415-6420

Hepatitis B: Are at-risk individuals vaccinated if screened and found negative for HBV? Results of an online survey conducted in six EU countries (Article)

Levi M. , Ahmad A. , Bechini A. , Boccalini S. , Nguyen Q.V. , Veldhuijzen I. , Richardus J.H. , Reintjes R. , Bonanni P.*
  • a Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
  • b Department of Health Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany
  • c Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
  • d Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
  • e Department of Health Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany
  • f Division of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • g Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • h Department of Health Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany
  • i Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

Abstract

Introduction: Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis B infection and its consequences. The aim of the present study is to analyze the current vaccination practices within various population subgroups who are offered screening for hepatitis B, when found negative, in Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. Methods: Online surveys were conducted in the six countries. In total, 1181 experts from six different health professions were invited to participate. Descriptive analyses of data were performed. Results: Less than half of the respondents in the Netherlands, only about 1/4 in Germany and none in Hungary reported that the vaccine is commonly offered to people who inject drugs. Less than half of the respondents in Germany reported vaccinating sex workers or HIV positive patients against hepatitis B as common practice. None in Hungary stated that vaccinating sex workers is common practice, and only according to a minority (17%) HIV patients are commonly vaccinated. 1/4 to 1/3 of respondents in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Hungary and the UK, indicated that HCV positive patients are only sporadically immunized. Only in Spain almost half of the respondents reported that migrants from hepatitis B endemic areas who are screened negative are commonly vaccinated. Widespread uncertainty about vaccination practices for asylum seekers was reported. Conclusions: By showing the gaps between current practices and policies in place, our findings can help to increase the success of future vaccination programmes. Implementation of training for health care professional, e.g. introducing vaccinology and vaccination policy courses in the medical and paramedical curriculum, could contribute to a more homogenous application of the recommendations regarding immunization against hepatitis B. Our results show, nonetheless, that the universal vaccination approach, coupled with targeted programmes for immigrants, represents the only way to make the elimination of hepatitis B a foreseeable, realistic objective. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Author Keywords

At-risk groups Vaccination Hepatitis B European Union

Index Keywords

descriptive research Health Personnel Netherlands Germany HIV Infections health care survey Health Care Surveys Human immunodeficiency virus infection health care policy Europe health care personnel human Pregnant Women statistics and numerical data Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient Hungary asylum seeker Humans migrant Emigrants and Immigrants Spain female high risk population prostitution Article uncertainty Hepatitis B Vaccines major clinical study drug abuse United Kingdom drug use hepatitis B vaccine medical expert injection drug user Italy Drug Users Health Policy pregnant woman online monitoring vaccination hepatitis B Sex Workers hepatitis C health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84908568635&doi=10.1016%2fj.vaccine.2014.09.042&partnerID=40&md5=1b3b1bd6879bf9699ef2709715a54486
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.09.042
ISSN: 0264410X
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English