Trends in Vaccine-induced Immunity to Hepatitis B among Canadian Street-involved Youth

Abstract

In Canada, universal and publicly funded hepatitis B immunization programs have been available since 1998 in all provinces and territories. This present study estimates the proportion of having vaccine-induced immunity to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its associated determinants among street-involved youth aged at 15-24 years old in Canada using the data collected by the Enhanced Surveillance of Canadian Street Youth. Vaccine-induced immunity was identified by blood test results of anti-HBc negative and anti-HBs positive. Of the 4,035 participants included in this study, the overall proportion of those with vaccine-induced immunity to HBV was 51.7% during the study period compared to over 90% among the general adolescent population. The proportion of street-involved youth immunized with HBV vaccine increased from 34.7% in 1999 to 64.4% in 2005. Immunity was higher among females (aOR=1.43, 1.17-1.75) and among those with a reported history of sexually transmitted infection (aOR=1.30, 1.03-1.63). The proportion of youth with the immunity decreased as age increased (aOR=0.78, 0.76-0.81, per year increase). Despite an overall increase in the proportion of Canadian street-involved youth with vaccineinduced immunity to HBV, the proportion was still significantly lower than that observed in the general adolescent population. This highlights the need to improve the access to basic health care and the immunization programs to HBV for street-involved youth through creative outreach programs and other multi-faceted approaches.

Correlates of Susceptibility to Hepatitis B among People Who Inject Drugs in Sydney, Australia

“…34,35 Targeting young people at risk of injecting drug use may also require collaboration between these services and other organizations in contact with "at risk" young people, such as juvenile correctional facilities, refuges, and supported accommodation services and youth centers, as recommended by a recent Canadian study of street-involved youth. 36 Susceptible participants were more likely than vaccinated participants to be male, suggesting that female PWID may be more likely to be vaccinated than their counterparts. This association has also been demonstrated among young PWID in San Francisco 37 and may reflect men's generally lower levels of health-seeking behaviors.…”