Comparison of the immunogenicity of reduced doses of two recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccines in New Zealand children.
A group of 201 hepatitis B virus (HBV) sero-negative children 1-12 years of age received either three 2 micrograms doses of Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) or Smith Kline and French (SKF) recombinant DNA (rDNA) hepatitis B vaccine I.M. at monthly intervals. Each recipient was tested 4-6 weeks later for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Ninety-six 4-5-year-old children, given 2 micrograms doses of a plasma-derived vaccine (MSD, H-B-Vax) I.M. at 0, 1, 2 months, were tested at the same time with the same assays for comparison. Anti-HBs responses and geometric mean titres (GMT) were significantly higher with the MSDrDNA vaccine (96% and 338.9 IU/liter) than with the SKF/r DNA vaccine (82.3% and 69.4 IU/liter). We conclude that for the protection of young children, 2 micrograms doses of the MSD rDNA hepatitis B vaccine may be used under similar circumstances in which 2 micrograms of the MSD plasma-derived vaccine was used. Further studies are needed before the other rDNA hepatitis B vaccine may be used in lower than the 10 micrograms dose recommended in children.
Milne
A
A
Hepatitis Research Unit, Whakatane Hospital, Whakatane, New Zealand.
Brawner
T A
TA
Dumbill
P C
PC
Kawachi
I
I
Pearce
N E
NE
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009520:New Zealand; D011897:Random Allocation; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014612:Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines