The highest hepatitis A vaccination coverage levels among children aged 24-35 months and the greatest decline in acute hepatitis A infections occurred in states, counties and communities where hepatitis A vaccination has been routinely recommended since 1999.
Hepatitis A vaccine was licensed for use in children =24 months of age in 1995. Since 1999, the vaccine has been routinely recommended for children living in states, counties and communities where the rate of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections was twice the 1987-1997 national average.
In 2005, 57 percent of children aged 24-35 months living in these areas received one dose of hepatitis A vaccine compared with 3 percent of children aged 24-35 months living in areas where no specific vaccination recommendation existed.
The national incidence of hepatitis A infections has substantially declined from 12 per 100,000 in 1995 to 1.5 per 100,000 in 2005. The decline in HAV infections has been greatest in areas where childhood vaccination has been routinely recommended and rates in these areas now approach those seen in areas where there has been no specific recommendation for childhood vaccination.
The 2005 licensure of the hepatitis A vaccine for use in children aged =12 months and the 2006 recommendation for routine hepatitis A vaccination of all children should result in improved coverage and further reductions in disease incidence.
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