A review of the experience of childhood hepatitis A vaccination in Saudi Arabia and Turkey: implications for hepatitis A control and prevention in the Middle East and North African region

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Oct 3;17(10):3710-3728. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1920871. Epub 2021 Jul 2.

Abstract

In most countries of the Middle East and Northern African (MENA) region, a high hepatitis A virus (HAV) endemicity has been documented. Few others, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, are transitioning from high to intermediate endemicity. There is a paucity of recently published HAV disease burden that could be useful to inform or strengthen relevant national hepatitis A vaccination policy and other prevention strategies in the region. This review summarizes information on HAV epidemiology before and after the implementation of a childhood hepatitis A vaccination program in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. In both countries, a clear shift in the age of first HAV exposure has been documented, with more homogeneous trends across regions in Saudi Arabia compared to Turkey. Utilizing the experience of Saudi Arabia and Turkey with hepatitis A vaccination, countries in the region are encouraged to foster discussions on potential vaccination strategies suitable for their own setting.

Keywords: Hepatitis A; Middle East; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; endemicity; seroprevalence; vaccination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Hepatitis A Antibodies
  • Hepatitis A* / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis A* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Turkey / epidemiology
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Hepatitis A Antibodies

Grants and funding

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA funded this study and was involved in all stages of study conduct, including analysis of the data. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA also paid all costs associated with the development and publication of this manuscript.