Vaccination Progress of Hepatitis B Vaccine and Epidemiology Changes of Carrying Rate of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen by Province in China, 1992-2006

Objective We evaluated the vaccination progress of hepatitis B vaccination and the changes of prevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) by province in China between 1992 and 2006, and to provide the evidence of hepatitis B control. Method We analyzed the association between vaccination coverage and HBsAg prevalence by age and region distribution. Result There was a 44.62 percentage point increasing of HepB3 in average, the highest increased provinces are Hainan (82.86), Tibet (76.91), Guangdong (75.42), Chongqing (70.78) and Xinjiang (70.22), lowest increased provinces are Qinghai (25.00), Shanghai (17.65), Beijing (10.00), Jiangsu (7.98) and Ningxia (6.19). There was a 50.90 increasing of TBD in average, the highest increased provinces are Chongqing(88.65), Sichuan(83.96), Tibet (82.89), Yunnan (81.41), Guangdong(80.00) and Guizhou(71.95); lowest increased provinces are Anhui (2.02), Ningxia(4.65), Guangxi(7.81), Beijing (12.05) and Shanghai (17.92). Provinces with better economic status or supported by international project had the high increasing of vaccination coverage of HepB3 and TBD. Conclusion The provinces with high coverage of HepB3, especially with the high coverage of TBD the lower the HBsAg prevalence decreased obviously in China, there was an negative correlation between TBD increasing and HBsAg carrying rate. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis B. Therefore, China should enhance the infant vaccination of HepB and timely birth dose.