Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a primary cause of chronic viral hepatitis and a significant public health issue. Since 2003, all infants in Bangladesh have received the HBV vaccine in their 6th week of age under the National Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). Despite EPI vaccination campaigns, cases of HBV infection are still being discovered in children who were previously vaccinated. This article explored previously immunized individuals who incidentally turned out to have HBsAg during their routine evaluation.
References
[1]
Boisson, A., Goel, V., Yotebieng, M., Parr, J.B., Fried, B. and Thompson, P. (2022) Implementation Approaches for Introducing and Overcoming Barriers to Hepatitis B Birth-Dose Vaccine in Sub-Saharan Africa. Global Health: Science and Practice, 10, e2100277. https://doi.org/10.9745/ghsp-d-21-00277
[2]
de Villiers, M.J., Nayagam, S. and Hallett, T.B. (2021) The Impact of the Timely Birth Dose Vaccine on the Global Elimination of Hepatitis B. Nature Communications, 12, Article No. 6223. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26475-6
[3]
Banik, S., Datta, A., Ghosh, A., Ghosh, K.Y. and Debi, H. (2022) The Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Epidemiology and Infection, 150, e47. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0950268822000061
[4]
Wong, G.L. and Lemoine, M. (2025) The 2024 Updated WHO Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Hepatitis B: Main Changes and Potential Implications for the Next Major Liver Society Clinical Practice Guidelines. Journal of Hepatology, 82, 918-925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2024.12.004
World Health Organization (2024) Hepatitis B Is Preventable with Safe and Effective Vaccines. WHO-Hepatitis B Vaccines. https://www.who.int/southeastasia/activities/hepatitis-b-is-preventable-with-safe-and-effective-vaccines
[7]
Umar, M., Hamama-tul-Bushra, Umar, S. and Khan, H.A. (2013) HBV Perinatal Transmission. International Journal of Hepatology, 2013, Article 875791. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/875791
[8]
Li, T., Fu, Y., Allain, J. and Li, C. (2016) Chronic and Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infections in the Vaccinated Chinese Population. Annals of Blood, 2, Article 4. https://doi.org/10.21037/aob.2017.04.02
[9]
Kundu, S., Kundu, S., Seidu, A.A., et al. (2023) Factors Influencing and Changes in Childhood Vaccination Coverage over Time in Bangladesh: A Multilevel Mixed-Effects Analysis. BMC Public Health, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-722674/v2
[10]
Hou, J., Liu, Z. and Gu, F. (2005) Epidemiology and Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2, 50-57. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.2.50
[11]
Di Lello, F.A., Martínez, A.P. and Flichman, D.M. (2022) Insights into Induction of the Immune Response by the Hepatitis B Vaccine. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 28, 4249-4262. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v28.i31.4249
[12]
Seed, C.R., Jones, N.T., Pickworth, A.M. and Graham, W.R. (2012) Two Cases of Asymptomatic HBV “Vaccine Breakthrough” Infection Detected in Blood Donors Screened for HBV DNA. Medical Journal of Australia, 196, 651-652. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja11.11589
[13]
World Health Organization (2024) Hepatitis B Immunization Coverage Data. WHO Immunization Data. https://immunizationdata.who.int/pages/coverage/hepb.html
[14]
Schillie, S., Vellozzi, C., Reingold, A., Harris, A., Haber, P., Ward, J.W., et al. (2018) Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR. Recommendations and Reports, 67, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6701a1
[15]
Gerlich, W.H. (2013) Medical Virology of Hepatitis B: How It Began and Where We Are Now. Virology Journal, 10, Article No. 239. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422x-10-239
[16]
World Health Organization (2020) Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus: Guidelines on Antiviral Prophylaxis in Pregnancy. WHO Publications. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/978-92-4-000270-8
