Project title
115年臺灣國民免疫力調查研究
Principal Investigator
Start Date
January 14, 2026
End Date
June 30, 2027
Organizations
Partner Organizations
衛生福利部疾病管制署
115年臺灣國民免疫力調查研究
Keywords
anti-HAV；anti-HBs；Anti-HCV
Description
This project aimed to investigate the prevalences of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen
(anti-HBs), hepatitis A (anti-HAV), and to hepatitis C (anti-HCV) in Taiwan. This study is going to
cover the whole population and the seromarkers to be checked will be mainly for hepatitis A,
hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Hopefully, we can prove that the anti-HBs is prevalent enough after
the launch of universal vaccination program in infancy. We expect those who age >40 years of age
will have a much higher hepatitis B surface antigen positive rate than those <40 years of age
since we started the universal vaccination program 40 years ago. While the anti-HBs will be more
prevalent in those <40 years of age. In terms of anti-HAV, we just started the universal HAV
vaccination program this year and this study can found the baseline data of anti-HAV prevalence in
Taiwan’s population. In the future, we can learn if this is a successful universal vaccination
program or not based on the baseline data. Furthermore, the epidemiologic data regarding HCV
infection in Taiwan is also important. Since curative, direct-acting antiviral regimens were
proposed in recent years, the accurate estimate of HCV infection burden in Taiwan will not only
provide the critical information, but also the treatment opportunity.
In the past, we had performed several hepatitis B seroprevalence studies in Taiwan. This project
will extend to the whole Taiwan since 5 years ago. The recruited subjects will be male: female=
1:1。Because of the restraint of budge and manpower, we plan to enroll the subjects as below: 0 to
<2y/o will be at least 100 persons, 2-4y/o will be at least 250 persons, as for 5-59 y/o，we
will divide them by 5 years; that is , 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, and so on, totally 11 groups, at least
350 persons for each group, and subtotally 3850 persons。If we divide these subjects according to
the geographic area, approximately northern Taiwan will be around 2160 persons, middle and southern
Taiwan will be around 850 cases in each one. The eastern Taiwan is expected to recruit about 340
cases. All these cases will be tested for HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc, Anti-HAV, and Anti-HCV. They
will also be inquired about their vaccination histories and confirmed by the database in National
Health Bureau if available.
Additionally, for cases with positive hepatitis B surface antigen, if the budget allows, tests may
be conducted for hepatitis B e antigen, e antibody, viral load, quantitative hepatitis B surface
antigen, viral genotype, and hepatitis B virus mutation detection. Depending on the situation, HBV
core-related antigen and quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen tests may also be performed.
From these data, we can understand at least the seroprevalence of HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc, AntiHAV, and Anti-HCV. in Taiwan in different age groups. We may learn the problems and difficulties of
universal vaccination program and the strategies to prevent infection. We will try to figure out if
the antibody prevalence good enough or not. Based on these data, we may re-evaluate our vaccination
policy and the immunity conferred by vaccination in different age group, and provide better health
promoting policies.
We will take advantage of these field study to study the other vaccine-preventable diseases, such
as measles, rubella, chickenpox, and Japanese encephalitis, in the meantime by providing serum
samples to Taiwan CDC for the check of antibodies for those vaccine preventable diseases. The serum
samples can be utilized to study the sero-epidemiology and the herd immunity of these
abovementioned diseases. The data generated from this study will be very important for making the
future prevention policy for these diseases.