Serosurvey of hepatitis B surface antigen in pregnant Saudi women

In 1990, Saudi Arabia began vaccinating all children at school entry against hepatitis B. We evaluated hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] prevalence rate among pregnant Saudi women 12 years later in 5 regions of the country. Using multistage sampling, 2664 pregnant Saudi women were recruited. Blood samples were tested for HBsAg; positive samples were also tested for hepatitis Be antigen [HBeAg]. In all 2.44% were positive for HBsAg and 4 [0.15%] were also positive for HBeAg. HBsAg prevalence was highest in Gizan [4.2%] and lowest in Tabuk [1.4%]. Positivity for women < or = 20 years of age was 0.5% compared with 2.6% for older women [P = 0.049]. The overall HBsAg prevalence rate was lower than previously reported

Effect of gender on reporting of MMR adverse events in Saudi Arabia

We evaluated the safety of a measles-mumps-rubella [MMR] immunization campaign for Saudi children [age range: 6-13 years] and gender differences in reporting post-MMR adverse events. After vaccinations were administered, we monitored 160 schools for 14 days and 19 hospitals in the 8 cities under study for 10 weeks. Incidence rates were: all MMR adverse events, 26.5/10,000 MMR vaccines [significantly higher in females than males]; Urabe strain aseptic meningitis, 1.0/295,000; fever, 40.2/10,000 [females] and 0.9/10,000 [males]; and parotitis, 5.4/10,000 [females] and 0.9/10,000 [males]. Combined MMR vaccine containing the Urabe mumps strain was safe for children aged 6-13 years. Gender differences regarding reactogenicity were evident and should be considered when designing future studies

Measles immunization in Saudi Arabia: the need for change

This paper describes the measles immunization programme in Saudi Arabia and the change from the single-dose schedule with the Schwartz vaccine to the double-dose schedule with the Edmonston-Zagreb vaccine. The recent measles-mumps-rubella school campaign is also described

use of FDA oral polio formula in vaccinating Saudi children

To evaluate the immunogenicity of USA [FDA] Oral polio vaccine versus WHO Oral polio vaccine. Open randomized trial where 210 children were randomized into three groups. First group received Hemophilus influenza type b [Hib] vaccine plus WHO DTP and OPV. The second group received Hib plus FDA DTP and OPV. The third group received WHO DTP and OPV without Hib vaccine. 3 doses were given at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months. Blood samples were collected at 6 months of age. Bar coded sera were used to assess for polio antibody for the three poliovirus types using microneutralization assay. The result of polio assay will be presented in this paper. Proportion of children with detectable antibody [titre =/> 1/8] polioviruses were higher in the group vaccinated with the FDA OPV formula but no significant difference was found for our sample size. FDA oral polio is not superior to WHO OPV at our sample size and there is an improvement in the seroresponse to WHO OPV compared to previous survey