Do we need 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine?
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine may provide protection through the clonal expansion of specific memory cells without necessarily having to produce high serum antibody levels. We develop a mathematical model which distinguishes between the accumulation of sensitive memory B and T-helper cells prior to a booster and the high circulating antibody levels present in an individual after a booster. We suggest this immune memory accumulates primarily in an antigen-independent fashion. These phenomena suggest individuals may be immune to infection six months after the priming vaccine dose(s) regardless of whether they receive a booster or not. This hypothesis is supported by immunogenicity data and by two independent vaccine efficacy trials comparing 0, 1 month schedules with 0, 1 and 6 month schedules.
Welcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK.
J N
JN
Wilson
D J
DJ
Nokes
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008433:Mathematics; D018448:Models, Immunological
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines