ABSTRACT
Iraq is among countries of intermediate hepatitis B endemicity. Although several studies have been carried out on the prevalence of HBV markers, no previous study was done to determine the protective antibody level after HBV vaccination. Therefore, this study was carried out to detect HBV markers and antibody protective level among vaccinated and unvaccinated Iraqi subjects. A total of 400 subjects [298 thalassaemic patients and 102 [healthy] subjects] were included in the study for the period 1[st] Oct. 2002 to 28[th] Feb. 2003. Thalassaemic patients represent the vaccinated group, and the [healthy] subjects represent the unvaccinated control group. The same rate of HBsAg was detected in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups [2%]. Protective anti-HBs level was demonstrated in 229 [76.8%] and 25 [24.5%] of vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, respectively. The protective rate of protective level of anti-HBs among those who receive three primary doses of vaccine [77.7%] was significantly higher than among those who did not complete the course of vaccination. The rate of protective anti-HBs level among those who received the full course of vaccination is lower than that reported in literature. Improper vaccination or handling of the vaccine could also contribute to this low level as result of deterioration of health services during the last 2 decades