Antibody titres after primary and booster vaccination of infants and young children with a virosomal hepatitis A vaccine (Epaxal).
To evaluate the immunogenicity and tolerability of Epaxal in infants and children, 30 infants (aged 6-7 months) and 30 children (aged 5-7 years) received a single intramuscular dose of the aluminium-free virosomal hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine Epaxal and a booster dose after 12 months. Anti-HAV antibody titres were measured at baseline (before injection), at 1 and 12 months after primary vaccination, and 1 month after the booster vaccination. Sixteen evaluable infants had maternal anti-HAV antibodies at baseline. Complete seroprotection (titre >/= 20 mIU/ml) was achieved by all infants and children at Month 1 and at Month 12. Additionally, all subjects showed a strong antibody response to booster vaccination. In infants without maternal anti-HAV antibodies, the response was four-fold higher than in those with maternal anti-HAV antibodies. Both doses of Epaxal were well tolerated. These preliminary data suggest that Epaxal is an effective hepatitis A vaccine for children and infants from 6 months of age.
Centre of Paediatrics, Vilnius University, P.O. BOX 2561, 2009 Vilnius, Lithuania. usonis@ktl.mii.lt
V
V
Usonis
V
V
Bakasénas
R
R
Valentelis
G
G
Katiliene
D
D
Vidzeniene
C
C
Herzog
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D022701:Virosomes
D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D022701:Virosomes