title: Hepatitis B vaccine in the expanded programme of immunisation: The Gambian experience. The Gambia Hepatitis Study Group.
abstract: As part of the Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Study, hepatitis B vaccine has been integrated into the national Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) without major changes to the schedule of immunisation or to the mechanism of delivery. Serological results on a sample of vaccinated children at one year of age show that the strategy has been effective in reducing the prevalence of persistently infected children. The number of non-responders to the vaccine is low (less than 2%) and the antibody concentrations attained in responding children should give adequate protection when they are at high risk of persistent hepatitis B infection. Integration of hepatitis B vaccine into the EPI is feasible and effective in Africa.
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D004349:Drug Packaging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005714:Gambia; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens