Lessons learnt over two decades of vaccination against hepatitis B in Italy

• Published in: Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene 2015-06, Vol.56 (1), p.E12-E14
• Main Authors: Romanò, L, Galli, C, Tagliacarne, C, Zanetti, A R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Review
• ISSN: 1121-2233; 2421-4248
• DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/JPMH2015.56.1.469

This article reviews topics covered and discussed at the Meeting: "Vaccini e vaccinazioni. Migliorare l'oggi e preparare il domani", held in Genoa, Italy, on 12 September 2014. Data presented at the meeting, clearly showed that: 1) hepatitis B vaccination can confer long-term protection and there is no need for booster in immunocompetent vaccinees; 2) vaccination is highly effective in protecting population from clinical acute or chronic HBV infections, including hepatocellular carcinoma; 3) children vaccinated as infants with hexavalent vaccines maintain immunological memory 5 years after priming, but further studies are needed to assess whether immunity persists during the adolescence and adulthood when risk of exposure to HBV becomes higher; 4) the emergence of vaccine-escape mutants and Pol-gene mutants during antiviral therapy - which can result in changes in the S-gene - is of some concern, but at present there is no evidence that such mutants may pose a threat to the established programs of vaccination.