title: Long-term hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to hepatitis B e antigen positive mothers.
abstract: Neonates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and hepatitis B encoded antigen (HBeAg) positive mothers received 10 micrograms of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine at months 0, 1, 6, or 0, 1, 2, 12, with or without immunoglobulin at birth, and were followed up to the age of 8 years for HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs. Some were boosted at month 60. The overall vaccine protection at month 12 was 96.2%. No child became a chronic carrier beyond the age of 3 years, showing that this vaccine provides immediate protection against HBsAg carriage, and long term protection against fetally acquired HBsAg. After month 60 hepatitis B serological markers without disease, indicating re-exposure to HBV, reappeared in comparable numbers among boosted and non-boosted children (5 for a total of 167 children). This vaccine provides long-term protection against hepatitis B chronic carriage and infection in high risk neonates with or without a month 60 booster. A booster at the age of 5-6 years or 11-12 years would reduce HBV infection, viral circulation and transmission, while ensuring long-term antibody persistence.
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Research Unit Chulalongkorn University Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poovorawan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanpavat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chumdermpadetsuk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Safary
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous