Vaccination Effect on Epidemic Process of Viral Hepatitis B In Republic of Belarus

Relevance. Hepatitis B (HB) has a global range of spread; in the WHO European Region alone, approximately 15 million people suffer from a chronic form of infection, which in 20–30% of patients can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. The aim of this paper was to analyze the of the HBV epidemic process manifestations on territory of Republic of Belarus from 1965 to 2017 and to assess the epidemiological effectiveness of vaccine prevention.

Materials and methods. To assess the incidence and coverage of prophylactic vaccinations against HB-infection in the general population and its individual groups, data from the state statistical reporting «Report on certain infectious and parasitic diseases and their carriers», «Report on prophylactic vaccinations», and other medical documentation were used. Results and discussion. Introduction of hepatitis B vaccination of newborns and certain adults groups allowed reducing incidence hepatitis B (HB) rate among total population by 5.4 times in 2017 (14.93 cases per 100,000 population). Incidence rate among child population decreased by 82,8 times (from 4.97 cases per 100,000 child population to 0.06 in 2016).  There is direct correlation was established between acute viral hepatitis incidence rate and vaccination coverage level (r = –0.85, p ≤ 0.05). In the last 5 years, the maximum incidence rate of all forms of HB has been marked in group of 30–39 years (68.3% of all registered cases), vaccination coverage of necessary groups is 27.9%. The total populational vaccination coverage by 01.01.2018 is 37.1%, child population is 98.0%.

Conclusion. However, a certain number of children remains unvaccinated due to long-term and permanent contraindications or vaccine refuse. If achieved levels of HB vaccination are maintained over the next 20 years, population up to 40 years old will have a recommended level of immunization coverage above 98%, and population up to 45 years old – 96%. Such vaccination coverage will provide background and conditions for HB epidemic situation changing.

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