Revaccination against hepatitis B virus of non-responding and low-responding infants immunised at birth. A parallel evaluation of rubella and tetanus vaccine.
The aim of the present study was to identify the true extent of the non-responsiveness in infants born from HBsAg-negative mothers, vaccinated against Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) at birth. Sixty-four non- and low-responding infants, selected from an initial cohort of 2009, were given two additional doses of recombinant HBV vaccine between the tenth and the twelfth month of age. A parallel evaluation was conducted on the response to anti-rubella and anti-tetanus vaccine. Only two infants remained non-responders, whereas 68% of the non-responders and 94% of the low responders after the primary vaccination schedule developed antibody titres over 100 mIU ml-1. No significant relationship between the specific antibody level against HBV and against rubella or tetanus 1 month after vaccination was observed.
Belloni
C
C
Division of Neonatal Intensive Care, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Tinelli
C
C
Orsolini
P
P
Pistorio
A
A
Avanzini
A
A
Moretta
A
A
Gulminetti
R
R
Bogliolo
O
O
Chirico
G
G
Rondini
G
G
D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid