title: Increases in levels of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen in an immunized population.
abstract: Hepatitis B vaccine is effective in preventing infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), but its duration of protection is unknown. To examine the effect of exposure to HBV on an immunized population, data were analyzed from a cohort of Alaska Natives who were immunized and then followed up annually for 10 years. A boost in antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was defined as a fourfold rise in levels to > or = 20 mIU/mL that was not accompanied by the presence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen or attributable to interim vaccination. During 10 years of follow-up, 8.2% of 1,595 vaccines had boosts in anti-HBs. Persons with boosts did not differ significantly from those without boosts in terms of age, gender, village, initial level of anti-HBs, or level of anti-HBs before the boost. These results underscore the continued exposure to HBV among vaccinees and the continued protection against disease that the vaccine provides.
authors.affiliation: Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, Alaska.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bulkow
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wainwright
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Parkinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D011153:Population
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens