Evaluation of the routine hepatitis B immunization programme in Palestine, 1996

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study were to evaluate routine hepatitis B immunization in Palestine. Blood samples of 119 children [89 fully immunized and 30 non-immunized] were analysed. The protective antibody levels among immunized children were greater than the non-immunized children. Antibody levels among the immunized children were lower in the older age group [> 36 months], but no sex differences in antibody level were apparent. Thus, hepatitis B immunization had an excellent impact on preventing hepatitis B transmission [85% preventive]. The non-responders constituted 14.6% of the sample, which is higher than other studies