Objective: Assess the effectiveness of a school-based HepB program that targeted 10 and 11 year-old schoolchildren in Hawaii.
Methods: During 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 school years, 5th graders received 3 doses of HepB. In 1998-1999, 4th and 5th graders were vaccinated. The program was contracted out to a nursing agency. Public awareness campaigns were conducted before consent forms were sent to parents. The proportion of children for whom consents were received and that completed all 3 doses were analyzed for each period.
Results: In 1996-1997, consent for HepB was received for 12040 of 15455 children enrolled (84%). This decreased to 58% (8719/15323) in 1997-1998 and to 28% (8512/30920) in 1998-1999. A survey showed that this decrease was due largely to children already completing the 3-dose series through a health care provider.
In 1996-1997, 93% of children with consents started the first dose at school and 83% completed all 3 doses at school. The proportion of children with consents completing 3 doses at school in the following 2 years remained high (89% and 86% respectively).
Conclusions: This statewide school-based program involved all 180 public school and 83% of private schools and captured a large proportion of children not fully vaccinated for hepatitis B and had a high series completion rate. It was successful as a "catch-up" campaign.
Learning Objectives: Describe the effectiveness of school-based Hepatitis B catch-up program in Hawaii
Keywords: School-Based Programs, Immunizations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.