Inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in healthy Chinese adults.
OBJECTIVE
To study the safety, tolerability of and immune response to an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in healthy Chinese adults.


METHODS
Seronegative subjects were randomized to receive formalin-inactivated, alum-adjuvanted hepatitis A vaccine (25 units, MSD) at 0, 24 weeks (group I) or 0, 2, 24 weeks (group II).


METHODS
Healthy Chinese adults aged 18 years or above were recruited. All subjects were staff of a regional hospital and primary care clinic in Hong Kong.


METHODS
Side-effects, tolerance, seroconversion rate and geometric mean titre (GMT) of the two groups were noted and compared.


RESULTS
Thirty-two and 28 people were recruited into group I and group II, respectively. Antibody against hepatitis A developed in 100% of the recipients 1 month after the last dose of either regimen, with a GMT of around 450 IU L-1. High antibody levels were maintained at the end of one year. There was no statistically significant difference in the seroconversion rates and GMTs between the two regimens of vaccination. All subjects in group I seroconverted at 24 weeks after one single dose of the vaccine. No adverse effects were reported except for complaints of some mild local and constitutional symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The inactivated hepatitis A vaccine is highly immunogenic, safe and well-tolerated.
Lo
Y C
YC
Special Preventive Programme, 5/F Yaumatei Jockey Club Clinic, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Lee
S S
SS
Wong
K H
KH
Lim
W L
WL
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines