Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination on hepatitis B prevention and on hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods: Birth cohort study, cross-sectional seroepidemiological survey, and surveillance of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatocellular carcinoma were used to evaluate the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination.
Results: During the 14 years after hepatitis B vaccination, the HBsAg positive rates were found to be 0.7% - 2.9%, with an average of 1.5%, and the protective rates were 83.5% - 96.6%. Hepatitis B virus infection rates of children immunized with hepatitis B vaccine were 1.1% - 5.1%, with an average of 2.2% and the protective rates of 93.5% - 98.4%. 15 years after hepatitis B vaccination, the incidence of hepatitis B dropped from 3.27/10 000 to 0.17/10 000, a 94.8% decrease, in the group of 0 - 19 year-olds.
Conclusion: The universal infant hepatitis B vaccination has proved to be effective in reducing the incidence rate of acute hepatitis B as well as the mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma.