Journal of medical virology
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Taiwan is an endemic area of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A nationwide mass vaccination program to prevent HBV infection was started in 1985. Perinatal and horizontal transmission of HBV decreased substantially after the launching of this program. ⋯ With yearly comparison, the carrier rate of HBsAg started to show significant decrease since 1994, while the anti-HBs began to rise significantly after 1996, especially in male students. The HBsAg carrier rate in male students was significantly higher, while the anti-HBs rate was significantly lower, than that in female students in most of the years. It is concluded that the effect of HBV vaccination also reduced horizontal transmission of HBV to children born up to 7 years before the start of the program.