Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be prevented by vaccination with HB surface antigen, which induces HBS specific antibodies and T cells. But the immunization status of workers and its relationship with occupational factors are not well documented. The goal is to examine the factors of risk and the immunization status against HBV among a population of workers. An assessment of the vaccination and the immunization status against HBV was conducted among a miscellaneous population of French workers, recruited from a medical occupational center, during a cross-sectional study. A representative sample of a population of 3000 workers enrolled, was selected. The population studied included many housemaids (18%), police officers (15%), technicians (15%), administrative agents (15%), electricians (12%) and healthcare workers (6%). The overall vaccination coverage (against HBV) was 39%, with an average of 4.2 doses of vaccine per worker. But the immune status was known for 18% of the studied population of which 2/3 (12% of the whole population) where immunized against HBV. Elevated risk factor to be infected by HBS concerns 6% of the studied workers (half of them where immunized). Medium risk concerns 30% of the whole population (1/3 was immunized) and low risk enrolled 64% (nobody was immunized). It is known that the high risk of infection among healthcare workers is greater than the general working population; but most of workers with medium occupation risk exposure were not immunized. Vaccination programs against HBV should be enforced for this last population. The novelty of this study is to underline that only a restricted group of workers exposed to HBV risk contamination is immunizated.

The vaccination status of workers and its relationship with occupational factors are usually not well documented. Routine HBV vaccination programs targeted to high-risk group (but less frequently to medium and low risk groups) are generally considered as a key element in order to prevent strategies. However, the low rate of natural immunization among adults in western countries must be taken into account. So as to permit the availability of an effective vaccine and the substantial evidence of the transmission of HBV, for example from healthcare workers to patients, this should be a condition of employment for workers undertaking intensive procedures, which are immunized against HBV.
 
Thanks & Regards,
John Kimberly
Editorial Manager
Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination
Email: jvv@scholarlypub.com