Impact of Age at Vaccination on the Long-Term Immune Response to Hepatitis B Virus Among Tunisian Healthcare Workers
1
Occupational medicine department, Charles Nicolle University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Since 1995, hepatitis B vaccination has been included in the Tunisian National Immunization Program. Healthcare professionals (HPs) are at increased risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, making vaccination during university training or at the start of professional activity a key preventive strategy. This study aimed to compare the post-vaccination immune response against HBV between HPs vaccinated at birth and those vaccinated in adulthood.
METHODS:
A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in the Occupational Medicine Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital. It included HPs born between 1980 and 2000 who had documented hepatitis B vaccination in adulthood and available anti-HBs antibody titers. An anti-HBs level >10 IU/L was considered protective. Participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1), vaccinated only in adulthood, and Group 2 (G2), vaccinated at birth according to the national schedule. Sociodemographic, professional, and immunological data were analyzed.
RESULTS:
A total of 374 HPs were included, with a mean age of 26 ± 3 years. The study population was predominantly female (74.3%), with a sex ratio of 2.9. Professional experience ranged from 1 to 197 months, with a median of 24 months. Nurses and senior health technicians represented 65% and 23.5% of participants, respectively. The proportion of immunized subjects (anti-HBs >10 IU/L) was significantly higher in G1 (p = 0.001). However, among immunized subjects, high antibody titers (>250 IU/L) were significantly more frequent in G2 (p = 0.012), suggesting stronger long-term immunity.
CONCLUSIONS:
Hepatitis B vaccination at birth is associated with higher long-term antibody levels compared with vaccination in adulthood. These findings underline the importance of monitoring hepatitis B immunity among healthcare professionals and support the need for booster doses, particularly for medical and paramedical students vaccinated in infancy.
Since 1995, hepatitis B vaccination has been included in the Tunisian National Immunization Program. Healthcare professionals (HPs) are at increased risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, making vaccination during university training or at the start of professional activity a key preventive strategy. This study aimed to compare the post-vaccination immune response against HBV between HPs vaccinated at birth and those vaccinated in adulthood.
METHODS:
A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in the Occupational Medicine Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital. It included HPs born between 1980 and 2000 who had documented hepatitis B vaccination in adulthood and available anti-HBs antibody titers. An anti-HBs level >10 IU/L was considered protective. Participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1), vaccinated only in adulthood, and Group 2 (G2), vaccinated at birth according to the national schedule. Sociodemographic, professional, and immunological data were analyzed.
RESULTS:
A total of 374 HPs were included, with a mean age of 26 ± 3 years. The study population was predominantly female (74.3%), with a sex ratio of 2.9. Professional experience ranged from 1 to 197 months, with a median of 24 months. Nurses and senior health technicians represented 65% and 23.5% of participants, respectively. The proportion of immunized subjects (anti-HBs >10 IU/L) was significantly higher in G1 (p = 0.001). However, among immunized subjects, high antibody titers (>250 IU/L) were significantly more frequent in G2 (p = 0.012), suggesting stronger long-term immunity.
CONCLUSIONS:
Hepatitis B vaccination at birth is associated with higher long-term antibody levels compared with vaccination in adulthood. These findings underline the importance of monitoring hepatitis B immunity among healthcare professionals and support the need for booster doses, particularly for medical and paramedical students vaccinated in infancy.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
