title: Higher anti-hepatitis B response with combined DTPw-HBV vaccine compared with separate administration in healthy infants at 3, 4 and 5 months of age in Slovakia.
abstract: To help achieve universal infant immunisation against hepatitis B, the World Health Organisation has recommended the development of a combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) and hepatitis B vaccine (HBV). The advantages come from the fact that DTP coverage is estimated to be over 80% worldwide and a combined DTP-HB vaccine would increase the coverage of HBV. This study was conducted to compare the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a combined DTP-HB vaccine with separate, concomitant administration of DTP and HBV vaccines. One hundred and twenty infants were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to one of the two vaccination regimens, given as three injections at approximately 3, 4 and 5 months of age. The only difference in immunogenicity between the two regimens was a higher antibody response to hepatitis B in the group given the combined vaccine, possibly as a result of the adjuvant effect of the whole cell pertussis component of the DTP vaccine. Both vaccine regimens were well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology, Poprad, Slovakia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prikazsky
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Bock
mesh_terms: D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin / Q000097:blood; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018154:Slovakia; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000097:blood; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella