Vaccination induced immunity to the hepatitis B virus among high-risk groups in Glasgow 1993-2001: evaluating the effectiveness of the United Kingdom's selective immunisation policy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The United Kingdom has adopted a selective approach to the control of hepatitis B (HBV), vaccinating those at increased risk of infection through lifestyle, occupation or other factors such as close contact with a case or carrier. This paper sought to assess the effectiveness of the targeted HBV vaccination programme, by determining the level of immunity and exposure to HBV infection among three high risk groups (injecting drug users (IDUs), men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals attending genitourinary medicine clinics) at three time points between 1993-2001 in Glasgow, Scotland.

METHODS: Residual sera from i) IDUs having a named HIV test and ii) MSM and heterosexual men and women attending GUM clinics and undergoing routine syphilis serology testing, were tested anonymously for HBV infection.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HBV infection remained at a low level in all three risk groups. IDUs continue to be the group at greatest risk of infection.

DISCUSSION: Despite the implementation of new initiatives targeting high-risk groups, vaccination levels remain low in the populations studied.