Are there missed opportunities for vaccinating against hepatitis B among people who inject drugs in the United Kingdom?

Sustaining the impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination on incidence and prevalence of HBV infection requires increasing and maintaining the uptake of vaccine among those at risk. In recent years, the level of vaccine uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the United Kingdom (UK) has levelled-off. Data (2015-16) from the national unlinked anonymous monitoring survey of PWID an annual survey that collects data from PWID across England, Wales and Northern Ireland was used to examine HBV vaccine uptake. Data from participants who had injected drugs during the previous year was used to investigate sources of hepatitis B vaccine doses as well as factors associated with vaccine uptake. Among the 3175 anti-HBc negative participants, 3138 (99%) reported their vaccination status; 23% (714) reported no vaccine uptake. Among those not vaccinated, 447 (63%) reported being sexually active and 116 (16%) reported sharing needles and syringes. Majority of those not vaccinated reported accessing services in the previous year that could have provided hepatitis B vaccine doses. These missed opportunities for vaccinating of PWID indicate a need for additional targeted interventions.