Evaluation of the hepatitis B antenatal screening and neonatal immunization program in Amsterdam, 1993–1998

In the enhanced antenatal hepatitis B screening and neonatal immunization program in Amsterdam, 691 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive expectant mothers were reported in the period 1993–1998. The coverage of the screening was calculated at 97%. HBsAg-prevalence was high in women from Ghana and South–East Asia, and lowest in Dutch women. Hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) was administered within 24h to 95.9% of the neonates; 99.7% completed the vaccination series. About 6 weeks after the third vaccination the titer antiHBs was ≥100IU/l in 85% of children; in 12% the titers were 10–100IU/l; 3% had titers <10IU/l, of whom 3/521 initially had HBsAg. Low birth weight (OR 3.77), being a boy (OR 1.64) and country of origin were predictors of low postvaccination titers. Coordinated by 0.5 full time equivalent (fte) additional staff, the program was relatively cheap and successful.