Hepatitis B immunity and vaccine completion among adults at increased risk for hepatitis B infection in Zambia
Most adults at risk for HBV in Lusaka, Zambia, had inadequate immunity, which could undermine HBV elimination. High resolved infection rate in contacts supports the role of index testing in HBV case finding. Low vaccine completion, despite vaccine access and addressing transportation costs, was striking and underscores the need for integrated behavioral science approaches to improve implementation of this potentially cost-effective intervention. Low rates of anamnestic response in people with anti-HBc-positivity should be further studied in Africa.
Authors
- Likando Munalula
- Taonga Musonda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9533-448X)
- Paul B. Kelly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9122-8961)
- E. E. Grace (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9746-6848)
- Sydney Mpisa
- Enock Syabbalo
- Mercy Wamundila
- Chloe Thio
- Ruth Phiri
- David L. Thomas
Institutions
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (ZM)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- University Teaching Hospital (ZM)
- Lusaka Apex Medical University (ZM)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- University of Zambia (ZM)
- Tropical Gastroenterology & Nutrition group (ZM)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLoS ONE
- Published
- 2026-02-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0339690
- Primary Topic
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institutes of Health