title: Duration of immunogenicity and efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine in a Yupik Eskimo population.
abstract: In 1981, a hepatitis B virus vaccine demonstration project was conducted in 1630 Yupik Eskimos in southwest Alaska. Levels of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and markers for hepatitis B virus infection in vaccinees were monitored yearly for 5 years. After 5 years of follow-up, 19% of those who initially had an immune response to vaccine of 10 sample ratio units or greater subsequently had levels of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen lower than 10 sample ratio units. During the 5 years after the first dose of vaccine, in three responders and one person with an antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen response lower than 10 sample ratio units, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen developed, and the level of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen was boosted. Hepatitis B surface antigen did not develop in any subjects, and none had clinical hepatitis. In the 5 years following the demonstration project, the annual incidence of hepatitis B virus infection decreased from 50 cases per 1000 population before the vaccine trial to 0.45 per 1000.
authors.affiliation: Arctic Investigations Laboratory, Center for Infectious Diseases, Anchorage, AK 99501.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wainwright
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bulkow
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Harpster
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hadler
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lanier
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Heyward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines