Hepatitis B vaccination in children: the Taiwan experience

Abstract

The world's first nationwide hepatitis B virus (HBV) universal vaccination program for infants was launched in Taiwan in July, 1984. All infants received three to four doses plasma or recombinant HBV vaccines. In addition, infants of HBeAg-positive mothers received 0.5ml of hepatitis B immunoglobulin within 24hours after birth. The vaccination coverage rate is as high as 97%. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) declined from 9.8% (prevaccination period) to 0.6% in children in Taipei City after 20years of mass vaccination. The seropositive rates for HBsAg, antibody to HBsAg, and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen were 1.2%, 50.5%, and 3.7%, respectively, in those born after the vaccination program (<20years old) in 2004. In line with the decrease of chronic HBV infection, the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) also decreased in children in Taiwan. From 1981 to 1994, the incidence of HCC in 6- to 9-year-olds declined from 0.52/100,000 for those born between 1974 and 1984 to 0.13 for those born between 1984 and 1986 (p<0.001). We extended the observation to 2000, the incidence of HCC per 100,000 children declined from 0.54 to 0.20. The prevalence of a determinant mutants (amino acids 121-149 of HBsAg) in Taiwanese carrier children was 7.8% (eight out of 103) in 1984, increased to 19.6% (10 out of 51) in 1989, peaked at 28.1% (nince out of 32) in 1994, and remained stationary at 23.1% (three out of 13) and about 25% in 1999 and 2004, respectively; it was higher in those fully vaccinated compared with those not vaccinated. The other group of subjects who are susceptible to vaccine failure is the immunocompromized hosts. We observed some de novo HBV infection in children after liver transplantation. Despite of the success of hepatitis B immunization, childhood chronic HBV infection and HCC were not eliminated by the universal vaccination program. Among those HBsAg carriers born after the vaccination program, 89% of their mothers were found to be positive for HBsAg, indicating the importance of maternal transmission. This was also true in the mothers of children with HCC, of them 96% were HBsAg positive. After two decades of universal infant HBV vaccination, we found this program provides long-term protection for up to more than 20years, and a universal booster is not required for the primary HBV vaccinees before adulthood. Mother-to-child transmission, although largely diminished, is still the main cause for immunoprophylaxis failure. The emergence of escape mutant did not impose increased risk of chronic infection at present. Nevertheless, development of new vaccines may overcome the vaccine failure.