Hepatitis B Screening and Immunity Gaps in Cambodia: Should Vaccination Be Mandated for Healthcare Workers and Health Sciences Students?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination coverage remain suboptimal. In Cambodia, despite more than two decades of inclusion of HBV vaccination in the national immunization program, protective immunity among healthcare workers and health sciences students is not routinely assessed. This policy-oriented perspective examines gaps in HBV immunity among health sciences students. Recent screening data from a Cambodian medical university (2025) reveal that more than half of students lack protective anti-HBs antibody levels, potentially exposing both healthcare providers and patients to preventable transmission risks. This article argues that Cambodia should strengthen nationwide HBV screening and consider mandatory vaccination and booster policies for high-risk groups-particularly healthcare workers and health sciences students. Such measures represent pragmatic institutional safeguards that are critical to reducing occupational transmission, preventing long-term liver disease, and aligning national efforts with the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating HBV as a public health threat by 2030.