Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B among the General Population in Shandong Province, Eastern China, an Update 30 Years after the Implementation of the Neonatal Vaccination Program

Background In 1992, Hepatitis B vaccine was first recommended for routine neonatal immunization in China. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Shandong Province, eastern China (updating our previous study in 2014), and to help guide the efforts of hepatitis B elimination. Methods A total of 5,000 serum samples were obtained from individuals all-aged over 1 year residing in Shandong Province, as part of a seroepidemiological survey of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies conducted in 2023. The chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay was used to detect serological markers of HBV. Results The overall prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc in the 2023 survey was 2.25% (95%CI:1.64–2.87), 46.21% (95%CI:44.05–48.38), and 25.17% (95%CI:23.46–26.88), respectively. The HBsAg prevalence has dropped to 0.28% among individuals younger than 30 years, particularly with less than 0.1% among children aged 1–14 (considerably below the 8% prevalence recorded in 1992). The peak prevalence of HBsAg was observed in individuals aged 40–49 years (5.63%), followed by those aged 30–39 (3.11%). Conclusion The Shandong Province has achieved a substantial success in controlling HBV infection among the younger generation. More attention should be paid to HBV-susceptible adults and chronic HBV-infected individuals in order to accelerate progress towards the goal of eliminating hepatitis B in the province.