title: Duration of immunity to hepatitis B vaccination in institutionalized mentally retarded patients.
abstract: Susceptible individuals of an institution for the mentally retarded (20 residents and six staff members) were vaccinated with Hevac B Pasteur (5 micrograms, months 0, 1, 2, 14). There were protective levels of anti-HBs in 75% of residents and 100% of staff members after 15 months from the first dose of the vaccine. After a 4-year follow-up period, there were persistent and protective levels of anti-HBs in 80% of residents, compared with 66% in staff members. In addition, no clinical hepatitis B infections were observed during this period.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases Regional Hospital and Foundation E. and S. Macchi, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broggini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sampietro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines