Efficacy of a mass hepatitis B immunization program after switching to recombinant hepatitis B vaccine: a population-based study in Taiwan.
To study the efficacy of immunization against hepatitis B after plasma-derived vaccine was replaced by recombinant vaccine, 2-year-old Taiwanese children were recruited by stratification random sampling and tested for hepatitis B markers. They were grouped according to maternal infectivity and children's immunization status. Of 2010 children, 2.5% had hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), 94.1% had its antibody (anti-HBs), 6.8% had core antibody, and 3.3% were seronegative. Children of highly infectious mothers immunized with hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccine on schedule had a lower HBsAg-positive rate and a higher anti-HBs-positive rate than those with vaccine only and off-schedule. The efficacy of the Taiwanese mass hepatitis B immunization was maintained after switching to recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
Center for Disease Control, Department of Health, The Executive Yuan, 161 Kun-Yang Street, Taipei 115, Taiwan. hmhsu@cdc.gov.tw
H M
HM
Hsu
S C
SC
Lee
M C
MC
Wang
S F
SF
Lin
D S
DS
Chen
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D013624:Taiwan; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin