Yorkshire regional audit of hepatitis B vaccination

Abstract

Practice related to hepatitis B vaccination in Yorkshire genitourinary medicine clinics was audited against targets based on the offer and uptake of vaccination by men who have sex with men (MSM) set by the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV (NSSHHIV). Of 254 eligible cases, 226 (93%) were offered vaccination, but only 187 (77%) were offered it at their first visit. Uptake of the first dose of vaccine was 83%, 56% and 82% among eligible MSM, injecting drug users (IDU) and commercial sex workers (CSW), respectively. Of the 193 cases who commenced vaccination, uptake of the third dose was 49%, 29% and 24% among eligible MSM, IDU and CSW, respectively. The super-accelerated course was most commonly prescribed, and completion of a three-dose course of this regimen was superior to the accelerated and standard courses. However, more patients having the accelerated and standard regimens had anti-surface antibodies greater than 10IU/L compared with the super-accelerated regimen. Improved recording of risk factors and provision of written information about vaccination, as well as a robust recall system to improve the completion rates of all regimens, are needed.