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High Prevalence of Hepatitis A virus Antibody among Bangladeshi Children and Young Adults Warrants Pre-immunization Acreening of Antibody in HAV Vaccination Strategy Ahmed, M.; Munshi, S.U.; Nessa, A.; Ullah, M.S.; Tabassum, S. & Islam, M.N. Abstract Serum samples from 465 subjects aged between 1 and 25 years were tested for antibody against hepatitis A virus (HAV) [anti-HAV IgG and IgM] to determine the seroprevalence of HAV antibody and do a cost-benefit analysis for decision making about vaccination against HAV among the general population of Bangladesh. A high prevalence of anti-HAV (74.8%) was observed in the study population; the whole study population was found positive for anti-HAV by the age of 25 years. On performing the cost-benefit analysis, it was found that the cost for vaccination with screening for anti-HAV was almost three times cheaper than vaccination without screening. Thus, in the present socioeconomic condition of Bangladesh, a policy based on screening for HAV antibody before vaccination is recommended. Keywords Anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV), HAV seroprevalence, HAV vaccine

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