Persistence of hepatitis B surface antibody to hepatitis B vaccine among medical college students in Najran University, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Around 257 to 291 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Immunization is one of the most effective ways to combat HBV infection. Saudi Arabia implemented a mandatory hepatitis B immunization program in 1989. This project investigated the levels of hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) among medical students in the college of applied medical science at Najran University in December 2020. Students (n=82) were tested for anti-HBs levels using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). Anti-HBs levels were the main outcome measures. Results showed that about 81.7% of participants had an insufficient amount of Anti-HBs levels (<10 IU/ L) compared to 18.3 % of participants who had protective levels of anti-HBs (≥10 IU/ L). However, 78.5% of the reactive group was at risk of losing immunity with a level between 12 and 42 IU/ L. Our study also showed an association between the age and the level of anti-HBs. Moreover, male students were at more risk than female students. Our results showed a strong relationship between Blood Groups and Anti-HBs antibody levels. The O+ (with 38.8%) and A+ (with 25.4%) blood groups showed the highest percentage amongst participants who had inadequate protection of anti-HBs (<10 IU/ L). Thus, data helps in our understanding and observations on anti-HBV immunity in individuals twenty years after being vaccinated as a child. According to the findings of our study, a large majority of students had a non-protective anti-HBs titer.

Epidemiologic and clinical updates on viral infections in Saudi Arabia

“…There are several drugs in advanced stages of clinical development including bulevirtide, JNJ-6379, ABI-H0731, ARO-HBV, and REP-2139, in which expectations indicate that combination therapies of antivirals and immune modulators achieve the maximum benefits of treatment ( Soriano et al, 2020 ). Saudi Arabia is one of the endemic countries with HBV infection in the Middle East ( AlAteeq et al, 2022 ), since 1989, it has implemented a mandatory vaccination program for HBV immunization ( Table 2 ), which has shown significant efficacy in declining cases over the past 20 years ( Ahmad et al, 2022 ).…”

Occurrence and Reduction of Hepatitis B Vaccine Hesitancy Among Medical University Students — Shanxi Province, China, 2020

“…In China, universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns was introduced in 1992, resulting in a high vaccination rate among university students. However, the antibody response to HBsAg (anti-HBs) decreases over time after vaccination ( 3 ). Additionally, university students are at a higher risk of HBV infection due to various factors such as tattoos, unprotected sexual contact, pierced ears, and accidental blood exposure to medical students.…”