title: Assessment of long-term efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine.
abstract: In a healthy cohort of 462 subjects in which hepatitis B vaccine was administered between 1990 and 1992 a follow-up study was carried out to determine the duration of protection. Individuals with antibody against the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBs) titer lower than 100 mIU/ml were administered a booster dose and antibodies determined 30 days later. The proportion of protection 6.5 years after vaccination was 85% (95% CI: 82-88). Only nine vaccinees seroconverted to anti-HBc positivity without becoming carrier or ill. In 125 subjects in which a booster dose was administered a significant increase in geometric mean of anti-HBs titer was observed (609 mIU/ml) as compared to late (13 mlU/ ml) and early post-vaccination antibody levels (256 mIU/ml, Wilcoxon's test, p < 0.001) suggesting the existence of an anamnestic response. We conclude that in immunocompetent population it is not necessary to administer a booster dose 6.5 years after hepatitis B vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Service, Gerencia Atención Primaria Area Sanitaria 8 of Madrid, Spain. MCAYERBE@terra.es
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ayerbe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Rivilla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic