Sahar M Sabbour

Conference 2023 Presentation

Project title

Post vaccination Hepatitis B antibody titre in a sample of students vaccinated during a campaign in a medical faculty 2021-2022

Authors and Affiliations

Sahar M Sabbour1, Maha M Elgaafary1

1. Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, faculty of medicine Ain Shams University

Abstract

Background

Persistence of antibodies following hepatitis B (HB) vaccination is necessary for long term protection against hepatitis B virus infection. Some studies confirmed persistence while others confirm waning of antibodies years after primary vaccination at birth. Medical students are at risk of an occupational exposure for HB and may need extra doses for adequate protection other than the primary doses received. This study aims to determine HB vaccination coverage among students during an implemented campaign held in faculty of medicine, Ain Shams University in 2021-2022 and to detect the immune status of students by measuring anti-HBs titer level among those vaccinated.

Methods

HB vaccination campaign was organized in faculty of medicine at Ain Shams University during November 2021- July 2022. The 3 dose vaccination schedule was 0,1 and after 6 months at least from the first dose. Students who participated in the vaccination campaign were informed to check their HB surface antibody titer (Anti-HBs) after receiving the first dose to know their immune status as they are expected to be immune from primary vaccination at birth. They were requested to perform the testing at the central laboratory of Ain Shams University Hospital one month after receiving a dose. A titer of >/100 IU/ml is considered a positive immune status needed for health care workers.

Results

950 students received the first dose of HB at the start of the campaign (baseline). Of them, 577 (60.7%) received the second dose a month later and 242 (25.47%) received the third dose at 6 months at least from the first dose. Only 64 students out of 950 (6.7%) performed the anti-HBs testing, of them 28.1%showed negative immune status (HBsAb <100IU/ml). Fourteen students performed the antibody test after receiving the third dose, 3 of them (21.2%) have negative immune status.

Conclusions

Negative immune status post vaccination was encountered among students. Medical students; being at occupational risk; may be in need of extra dose/doses. Further studies are needed due to the limited number performing the antibody titer.