Low-dose vaccination against hepatitis B in children: one-year follow-up.
Six hundred forty-three children, negative for markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, were given three X 2-micrograms doses of Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-Vax) at monthly intervals. Twelve months after the first dose of vaccine, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was detected in 89% of children by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and in 83% by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Seroconversion rates and anti-HBs titres were significantly greater in 1-4-year-olds than in older children (p less than 0.01). Eighteen children with no anti-HBs or other markers of HBV at this time were given 10 micrograms of vaccine and tested one month later. Seventeen developed anti-HBs, 12 at levels consistent with an anamnestic response. Forty-nine HBV-marker-negative children seroconverted for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in the 8-month period before or the 12-month period following vaccination. Forty-six of these children were positive for anti-HBs, and one has been confirmed as a chronic carrier of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Three cases of clinical hepatitis B in children have been seen in the community since the vaccination programme began. Two of these were amongst the estimated 5% of children who were not vaccinated. The third was in a vaccinee and occurred 4 1/2 months after the last dose of vaccine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Milne
A
A
Dimitrakakis
M
M
Campbell
C
C
Lucas
R
R
Allwood
G
G
Goldwater
P
P
Pearce
N
N
Krugman
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines