S2642 Toward Improvement in Hepatitis B Screening and Vaccination Rates in a Resident-Led Community Clinic

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects up to 2.4 million individuals in the United States, with a significant portion remaining undiagnosed. In response, recent CDC and ACIP guidelines recommend one-time HBV screening for all adults and same-day vaccination for those non-immune or with unknown status. Despite these recommendations, adult HBV vaccination rates remain suboptimal. This study aimed to assess the impact of targeted interventions on HBV screening and vaccination rates in a resident-led community clinic and to identify demographic predictors of vaccination uptake. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at JFK Clinic from June 3, 2024, to March 10, 2025, divided into 3 phases: pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention. Interventions included universal HBV screening for new patients and those undergoing annual wellness visits, along with first-dose vaccine administration during the same encounter when appropriate. Patients with any HBV testing were included. Screening and vaccination rates were compared across time periods using chi-square and Student’s t-tests. Subgroup analyses by age and ethnicity were also performed. Results: A total of 283 patients were included. Screening rates increased modestly from 10.0% (pre-intervention) to 13.3% (intervention) but declined to 7.3% post-intervention. Vaccination completion rates were highest pre-intervention (33.3%) and declined significantly during and after the intervention periods (14.8% and 14.6%, respectively; P = 0.004). Patients under age 40 were significantly more likely to complete the vaccine series compared to those over 40 (24.8% vs 13.2%; P = 0.02). Hispanic patients had higher first-dose uptake compared to non-Hispanic patients (53.0% vs 34.0%; P = 0.02), though completion rates did not significantly differ. Conclusion: Despite implementing CDC- and ACIP-aligned protocols, interventions did not improve HBV screening or vaccination rates in this setting. Younger and Hispanic patients demonstrated greater vaccine uptake, suggesting disparities in health literacy, access, or trust among older and non-Hispanic populations. Future strategies should emphasize patient-centered education and culturally sensitive counseling to improve HBV prevention efforts in underserved communities.