Quantitative evaluation of the effect of the hepatitis B vaccine based on the HBsAg- and anti-HBs-positive rates in the Chinese population over the last 33 years.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study was to quantitatively evaluate the effect of the hepatitis B vaccine based on 33 years of data published on the HBsAg- and anti-HBs-positive rates.

METHODS

All data were obtained from studies in published Chinese scientific journals from 1977 to 2009. The HBsAg- or anti-HBs-positive rate over a certain observation period was presented.

RESULTS

When the anti-HBs-positive rate was low, the ability of anti-HBs to control the HBsAg-positive rate is not apparent. When the anti-HBs level is high, the ability of anti-HBs to control the HBsAg-positive rate increases gradually, and a linear relationship was observed between the HBsAg-positive rate and the anti-HBs-positive rate. However, the rate of decrease of HBsAg positivity was markedly higher than the theoretical rate.

CONCLUSION

The effect of other known or unknown factors, in addition to the vaccination campaign, could have contributed to the decrease in the prevalence of HBV infection.