Premium
The long‐term efficacy of plasma‐derived hepatitis B vaccine in babies born to carrier mothers
Author(s) -
Young B. W. Y.,
Lee S. S.,
Lim W. L.,
Yeoh E. K.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00386.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , seroconversion , regimen , vaccination , hepatitis b , carriage , hepatitis b immune globulin , immunology , hepatitis b vaccine , booster dose , hepatitis b virus , antibody , vaccination schedule , immunization , pediatrics , virus , pathology
summary. The long‐term efficacy of a childhood hepatitis B vaccination programme was evaluated. A total of 112 newborn babies of hepatitis B carrier mothers were given hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and a 10‐μg three‐dose regimen of plasma‐derived vaccine administered at a conventional (0, 1, 6 months), delayed (2, 3, 8 months) or accelerated (0, 1, 2 months) schedule. The vaccinees were followed up to determine their anti‐HBs status over a 16‐year period. Upon completion of the vaccination schedules, 92.6% developed antibody against surface antigen (anti‐HBs) seroconverion, the rate of which fell to 33.3% at year 16. The three schedules were equally effective in preventing chronic infection, with a protective efficacy of 88.9% from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriage, compared with historical control. Vaccinees on the delayed schedule had a slightly higher seroconversion rate over years, and were better able to maintain an anti‐HBs level of ≥ 100 iu/L. Overall, a quarter demonstrated evidence of exposure to the virus, being positive for antibody against core antigen or HBsAg, or mounting a rise in anti‐HBs during the follow‐up period. We conclude that a three‐dose hepatitis B vaccination regimen is generally effective in protecting newborns of hepatitis B carrier mothers from infection and chronic carriage. Booster is not needed even after 16 years of monitoring.