title: Accelerated schedule of hepatitis B vaccination in high-risk youth.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cellblock Youth Health Centre, Children's Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morath
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isaacs
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines