title: The immune response of healthy Nigerian adults to small doses of hepatitis B vaccine: comparison of 10- and 20-micrograms doses.
abstract: The immunogenic effect of hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-vax) was evaluated in 120 seronegative healthy Nigerians. Three doses of the vaccine were given at 0, 1, and 6 months. Serial blood samples were tested 1 month after each vaccination for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Of 60 vaccines given 20 micrograms of the vaccine, 40% had significant anti-HBs response 1 month after the first dose, 70% after the second dose, and 91.7% after the third dose. In the 60 vaccines given 10-micrograms doses, the seroconversion rates were 35, 73.3, and 90%, respectively. It is concluded that this vaccine in 10-micrograms doses is as effective as the larger doses in producing anti-HBs. The administration of small doses would reduce the cost of large-scale vaccination programs in developing countries.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014611:Vaccination; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines