Compliance with hepatitis B virus vaccine: a matter of force?

Background: Vaccination for hepatitis B virus has been mandatory in Italy since 1991 for newborns but not for workers exposed to biologic fluids.

Methods: The immunologic status against hepatitis B virus was investigated in 827 paramedical students of Padua University Medical School. The students were subdivided according to sex and 2 age groups: 24 years of age or less and older than 24 years because subjects aged 24 years or less were probably included in the Italian vaccination mandatory period.

Results: Subjects born during the mandatory period showed a large compliance to vaccination (94.9%) and without statistically significant difference between males and females compared with the oldest students (67.6%).

Conclusion: The prevention at work is a matter of public health, not an individual sensitivity. For this reason, the devices to prevent accidents and diseases should be mandatory for all exposed subjects.