Tseng H.-Y.CHUN-YI LUCHIN-YUN LEEYeh C.-C.Lin S.-C.Shih W.-Y.Wu S.-Y.MEI-HWEI CHANGLI-MIN HUANG2021-06-242021-06-2420010929-6646https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0034750026&partnerID=40&md5=7d16d11c38db318b679a64754110be2chttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/566667Background and purpose: Hepatitis A is a disease that is heavily affected by sanitation status. Hepatitis A is much less prevalent compared with decades ago in Taiwan, as in many rapidly developing regions. Hepatitis A vaccine is still self-paid under the National Health Insurance program and is still not widely utilized by the general public in Taiwan. This seroepidemiologic study evaluated the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) seropositivity in Taipei in 1999. Methods: A total of 1017 serum samples from healthy inhabitants in Taipei were examined for anti-HAV antibody by qualitative enzyme immunoassay. Results: The overall seroprevalence rate was 25.2% (255/1013) in the nonvaccinated population. The seropositivity rate for anti-HAV antibody among children younger than 12 months old was 23.3%. The rates dropped to between 1% and 4.8% among subjects between 1 and 20 years of age. A markedly higher rate of 40% was observed in subjects aged between 20 and 30 years. The seropositivity rate in subjects aged 31 to 50 was 80%. More than 90% of subjects older than 50 years were seropositive. The vaccination rate was low (0.5%). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Taipei is an area of intermediate endemicity for hepatitis A virus. To achieve better herd immunity, a more active approach to the adoption of hepatitis A vaccine is warranted.[SDGs]SDG3hepatitis A vaccine; virus antibody; adult; age; antibody detection; article; blood sampling; child; controlled study; endemic disease; enzyme immunoassay; female; hepatitis A; human; human experiment; infant; male; normal human; seroepidemiology; seroprevalence; Taiwan; vaccination; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis A Vaccines; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Taiwan; Time Factors; Travel; Vaccinationjournal article116952752-s2.0-0034750026