Premium
Hepatitis B vaccine – do we need boosters?
Author(s) -
Banatvala J. E.,
Damme P.
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.1365-2893.2003.00400.x
Subject(s) - vaccination , medicine , immunology , hbsag , immune system , hepatitis b , immunization , disease , booster dose , antibody , booster (rocketry) , virology , hepatitis b virus , virus , physics , astronomy
summary . This review analyses the cumulated data from a number of long‐term follow‐up studies among infants, children and adults vaccinated against hepatitis B in industrialised and developing countries. Despite low or undetectable antibody responses years ater vaccination, the development of HBsAg was a rarity and, if present, only transient. Some vaccinees developed anti‐HBc responses but none developed an HB carrier state or clinical manifestations of disease. Studies demonstrating anamnestic responses among those with low or undetectable anti‐HBs levels following challenge with HB vaccine, together with the production of anti‐HBs in circulating B‐cells by spot ELISA, confirmed the presence of immune memory among vaccinees. Anamnestic anti‐HBs responses all correlate close in kinetics and magnitude with proliferative T‐cell responses. The accumulated data from studies assessed in this Review indicate that protection is dependent on immune memory, rather than declining anti‐HBs responses and add additional weight to the European Consensus recommendations (12) that following a complete course of vaccination, booster doses are unnecessary in immunocompetent persons. If implemented, this recommendation will have considerable cost benefits world‐wide.