Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ()

Vaccination coverage and immunity against hepatitis B in public health dentists

  • Cléa Adas Saliba Garbin,
  • Ketlin Lara Tosta Vanzo,
  • Suzely Adas Saliba Moimaz,
  • Artênio José Ísper Garbin,
  • Fernando Yamamoto Chiba

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0534-2018
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 52

Abstract

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Abstract INTRODUCTION: Occupational exposure is a major risk factor for hepatitis B (HB) transmission. METHODS: Vaccination coverage and immunity verification from 64 dentists of the Brazilian Unified Health System were investigated. An immunochromatographic method was used to verify immunity against the disease. RESULTS: Overall, 77.77% of participating dentists completed the vaccination schedule; 37.50% had negative anti-HBs test results. Furthermore, 60.93% of participants never underwent anti-HBs tests and 40% did not know how to correctly interpret results. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous dentists were not immune to the disease. Few participants previously performed the test, with many not knowing how to interpret the results.

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