Immunogenic effect of hepatitis B vaccine in children: comparison of two- and three-dose protocols.
The immunogenic effect of hepatitis B vaccine was evaluated in 183 seronegative infants from Senegal. Seventy-two seronegative infants received two 5-micrograms doses of vaccine at a two-month interval and 111 seronegative infants received three 5-micrograms doses at one-month intervals. All the children had a booster dose one year after the first injection of vaccine. No difference between the two groups was observed in the seroconversion rate (93.1% and 94.6%, respectively); in the proportion of high anti-HBs titer; or in the anti-HBs geometric mean titer (82 and 92 mIU/ml, respectively). These results demonstrate that two doses of 5 micrograms of hepatitis B vaccine are sufficient in infants to obtain a high immunogenic effect.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007223:Infant; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines