BACKGROUND

The most effective way to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is vaccination. Synthesized data on vaccination coverage in adults against hepatitis B in China are scarce. We aimed to estimate the hepatitis B vaccination rate in adults in China.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, and Sinomed databases for observational studies published between 1 January 2011 and 1 October 2021. Data were extracted using a standardized form to estimate the pooled vaccination coverage rate and 95% confidence intervals (CI) based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subgroup analysis was employed to explore heterogeneity. This study is registered in PROSPERO, CRD42021293175.

RESULTS

We identified 5128 records, of which 21 articles that included 34,6571 adults. The pooled coverage rate and 95% confidence intervals were 26.27% and 22.73-29.82%, respectively. The pooled coverage rates were 22.06% (95% CI: 15.35-28.78%), 33.81% (95% CI: 28.77-38.85%) and 23.50% (95% CI: 17.37-29.64%) in eastern China, central China and western China, respectively. Furthermore, males had a pooled hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate of 23.47% (95% CI: 15.61-31.33%), whereas, in females, the coverage rate was 26.60% (95% CI: 18.73-34.47%). The pooled hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate in the age group younger than 40 years was 36.93% (95% CI: 28.35-45.50%), while in the ≥40-year-old group, the pooled hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate was 17.09% (95% CI: 10.18-24.00%). The pooled hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate in urban areas (40.29%, 95% CI: 20.91-59.67%) was higher than in rural areas (16.54%, 95% CI: 7.80-25.29%). The average weighted, pooled hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate was 26.53% (20.25-32.81%) in 2011-2015 and 26.12% (22.04-30.20%) in 2016-2021.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review provides the hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate of adults in China (26.27%). The low prevalence of vaccine-mediated immunity among adults in China underscores the urgent need for targeted immunization strategies for vulnerable Chinese adults to ensure progress toward the target of eliminating hepatitis B by 2030.