In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccines administered by Health Ministry.

Between May 2005 and October 2006, 516 children applied to our clinic were asked for the situation of hepatitis B vaccines. Of these, 500 (96.9%) were administered by the vaccines of Health Ministry and 16 (3.1%) of them by the vaccines bought from farmacy. The children administered by Health Ministry vaccines were included to our study.

Of our cases, 269 (53.8%) were male, 231 (46.2%) female. Mean age of the cases was 55.5 ± 35.7 months (range: 6-165). Mean value of anti-HBs was 260 ± 198 mIU/ml (range: 5-500). The values of Anti-HBs were negative in 10% of the cases. According to the time between the last vaccine and application, 166 cases (33.2%) constituted group A (0-24 months), 122 (24.4%) group B (25-48 months), 212 (42.4%) group C (excess from 49 months). The mean anti-HBs value of group A was 335 ± 187 mIU/ml, group B 229 ± 189 mIU/ml and group C 219 ± 196 mIU/ml. The statistical difference was found between group A and either group B or C (p<0.05), but that was not found between group B and C.

In our society, hepatitis B vaccines of the health ministry are preferred predominantly. Establishing of antibody titers after vaccination and follow up troughout years should be approropriate.