Anti-Hepatitis B surface Titer as Indicator in Faculty of Medicine Universitas Riau Hepatitis B Vaccination Program

Abstract

Indonesia is endemic for hepatitis B virus infection. However, the prevalence has decreased which might be contributd to national immunisation programme starting in 1997. As a protective effort, since 2014, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Riau (FK UNRI) has implemented mandatory hepatitis B vaccination programme for students enrolling into clinical rotation who have anti-Hepatitis B surface (anti-HBs) titer less than 10 IU/mL. However, post-vaccination anti-HBs titer has never been measured. This research aimed to analyse post-vaccination anti-HBs titer on FK UNRI students enrolling in the vaccination programme. Surveyed respondents claimed to have been vaccinated on < 1 year old (40 people, 34,2%) or >1 year old (0,8%), while 77 people (65,8%) did not know or could not remember their vaccination status. Pre-programme initial screening showed that more than 80% students were nonreactive for anti-HBs. Followup anti-HBs titer measurement post-programme was conducted on 24 out of 42 students who have received third doses in FK UNRI hepatitis B vaccination programme. Result showed that all tested respondents have protective anti-HBs titer (≥ 100 IU/mL) within at least 2 months post-vaccination. Until now, Hepatitis B vaccination program has not been mandatory for healthcare workers or students working in various medical institutions. Therefore, a mandatory hepatitis B vaccination programme policy could be implemented by medical institutions to minimize hepatitis B infection cases among healthcare workers and students.