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Immunogenicity of hepatitis A‐inactivated vaccine administered to seronegative infants, and serological follow‐up 12 months after second dose
Author(s) -
SILVESTRI ANNALISA,
ZARA FRANCESCA,
TERULLA VIRGINIO,
BRERRA ROBERTO,
ZUCCA SILVANA,
BELLONI CESARE
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1080/08035250600615119
Subject(s) - medicine , immunogenicity , immunization , vaccination , serology , titer , antibody , inactivated vaccine , pediatrics , hepatitis a vaccine , seroconversion , immunology , virology
Aim : To evaluate a) the safety and immunogenicity of anti‐HAV‐inactivated vaccine administered during the first year of life to anti‐HAV seronegative babies, and b) the antibody persistence in a low/intermediate endemic area. Methods : After having obtained informed written consent from mothers, 92 babies were vaccinated at 4 and 10 mo of age. All babies were seronegative at birth and did not present HAV‐RNA shedding in three serial stool samples taken at 1, 2 and 3 mo of age. Results : No general side effects (fever>38°C) were observed. After the first dose of vaccine, 70/82 (85.4%) babies developed anti‐HAV>10 mIU/ml and 36/82 (43.9%)>20 mIU/ml. After the second dose of vaccine, all babies developed a titre>20 mIU/ml, and GMT was 877 mIU/ml. After 1 y of follow‐up, the decreasing rate was similar to that reported for adult populations. Furthermore, three babies doubled the titre observed 1 mo after the second dose, indicating the possible spread of HAV even in a low/intermediate endemic area. Conclusion : Anti‐HAV vaccine is safe, immunogenic and able to induce immune memory, and can be integrated into the routine infant immunization schedule during the first year of life.