Accelerated schedule of hepatitis B vaccination in high-risk youth.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a feasibility and immunogenicity study of an accelerated schedule of hepatitis B immunization for high-risk youth.


METHODS
High-risk adolescents attending a youth health centre and nearby youth refuges were immunized with Engerix-B recombinant vaccine, 20 micrograms intramuscularly, at 0, 2 and 6 weeks. Serology was performed prior to immunization and 3 months after the third dose.


RESULTS
Forty-two subjects (27 female) aged 13-20 years entered the study. Two (4.8%), already hepatitis B virus (HBV) seropositive, were excluded. Thirty-six of 40 subjects had one or more risk factors for HBV. Participants were often elusive, needing multiple attempts to establish contact. Twenty (50%) of the 40 completed three immunizations and all 14 studied developed anti-hepatitis B surface titres of > 100 mlU/mL (geometric mean titre 630 mlU/mL, 95% confidence intervals 309-1290).


CONCLUSIONS
High-risk youth can be immunized against hepatitis B successfully using an accelerated schedule, but compliance is difficult.
Wilkinson
S E
SE
Cellblock Youth Health Centre, Children's Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Morath
M
M
Bennett
D L
DL
Burgess
M A
MA
Isaacs
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines