Immune response to an indigenously developed hepatitis-B (Shanvac-B) vaccine in a tribal community of India.
Hepatitis-B infection is highly endemic among the primitive tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. A pilot project of hepatitis-B vaccination using indigenously developed (Shanvac-B) was initiated among the Nicobarese tribe in Car Nicobar Island. The 936 individuals negative for HBsAg and anti-HBs were administered three doses of the vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months. The vaccine was found to be safe and efficacious with sero-protection rates of 49.1, 86.9 and 96.7% after first, second and third dose. Considering the high endemicity of the infection and small number of the tribal population, it is necessary to initiate hepatitis-B vaccination programme for this community. Since the vaccine was found to be cost-effective, it could be adopted for hepatitis-B vaccination in this community.
Murhekar
M V
MV
Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Post Bag 13, 744-101, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, India. mmurhekar@yahoo.com
Murhekar
K M
KM
Arankalle
V A
VA
Sehgal
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines