— Christine M. Kukka, Project Manager, HBV Advocate
The percentage of U.S. adults age 19 and older who have been
immunized against hepatitis B dropped to 25% in 2013, a decline of 2.1%
from 2012 levels, according to a Feb. 6, 2015, report by the
U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The study found that racial disparities continued
to persist, with African-Americans and Hispanics reporting lower
hepatitis B vaccinations than whites.
CDC officials track vaccine coverage annually in
order to identify weaknesses in the public’s protection against
infectious diseases. Immunization coverage depends heavily on health
care providers to recommend immunizations based on their patients’ age
and health risks.
CDC researchers reported that hepatitis B
vaccination coverage overall was 25% for all adults age 19 and older,
32.6% for adults aged 19-49 and 16.1% in adults over age 50.
The CDC recommends all adults at risk of HBV
infection due to sexual practices, contact with infected family
members, and a family history of immigration from regions with high HBV
infection rates (such as Asia and Africa). Adults 60 and older with
diabetes should also be vaccinated.
According to the report, vaccination among adults
(aged 19-49) was lower for African-Americans (30.5%) and Hispanics
(23.7%) compared to whites (35.2%). Even among health care providers,
for whom immunization is mandated, coverage rates were lower for
Hispanics (54%) than whites (62.9%). These findings suggest that
doctors may be dropping the ball when it comes to making sure patients
receive the immunizations they need. “Routine assessment of adult
patient vaccination needs, recommendations and offer of needed
vaccinations for adults should be incorporated into routine clinical
care of adults,” the CDC researchers wrote.
Source: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml
/mm6404a6.htm
http://www.hbvadvocate.org/news/HBJ12.3.htmLabels: HBV immunization statistics U.S.
