Persistence of antibody and immunologic memory in children immunized with hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
Forty-two healthy children immunized with a course of hepatitis B vaccine beginning at birth were tested at 6 years of age for persistence of anti-hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBs) and then given a booster dose of vaccine. Although nearly one-half had become seronegative, all retained robust immunologic memory and rapidly regained a protective anti-HBs titer of at least 10 mIU/ml after booster vaccination.
Seto
Dexter
D
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Honolulu, HI 96826, USA. dexters@kapiolani.org
West
David J
DJ
Ioli
Virginia A
VA
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines