Hepatitis B screening and vaccination: how does a Sexual Health service measure up?
Ruthy McIver A D , Amalie Dyda B , Vickie Knight A B , Rebecca Guy B and Anna McNulty A CA Sydney Sexual Health Centre, PO Box 1614, Sydney City, NSW 2001, Australia.
B Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
C School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: Ruthy.McIver@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Sexual Health 12(5) 458-459 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH15061
Submitted: 26 March 2015 Accepted: 3 May 2015 Published: 6 July 2015
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a vaccine-preventable disease. Sexual health clinics in New South Wales see a high caseload of populations at risk of HBV, and thus screening and vaccination are part of routine care. Uptake of screening and vaccination at Sydney Sexual Health Centre was assessed and it was found that among 1577 new patients with an elevated risk of HBV infection, 864 (55%) were potentially susceptible. Of those susceptible, the majority were screened (76%) and approximately one-third (35%) were found to be eligible for vaccination. The majority (83%) initiated vaccination. Of concern, however, is that incremental gaps between initiation and completion of the vaccine course resulted in an overall HBV vaccine coverage of 26% among those HBV susceptible.
References
[1] NSW Ministry of Health. NSW Hepatitis B Strategy 2014–2020. North Sydney: NSW Ministry of Health; 2014. Available online at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/hepatitis/Pages/HepatitisBStrategy.aspx [verified May 2015].[2] Australian Government. Second National Hepatitis B Strategy 2014–2017. Canberra: Australian Government; 2014. Available online at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-bbvs-hepb [verified May 2015].
