title: [Vaccination against Hepatitis B: 20 years later].
abstract: More than 20 years have elapsed since 1984, when vaccination against Hepatitis B began, first with a plasma-derived vaccine and later a recombinant DNA-derived vaccine, and during this period important changes have taken place in several aspects of this disease: the acute and chronic infection rates, the mortality of fulminant Hepatitis B in infants and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma have been effectively reduced by approximately 25%. Vaccination during childhood has produced adequate protection for up to 20 years later. The appearance of Hepatitis B surface gene mutants in DNA HBV positive children has been confirmed, gradually increasing from 7.8% before vaccination to 23.1% 15 years later. To date, there is no evidence that those viruses are disrupting the efforts to control Hepatitis B through immunization programmes. A good immune response through the vaccination of premature infants with low birth weight has been implemented by delaying the start of the vaccination programme to between 7 and 30 days after birth. It has also been proposed that there is an increased risk of non-response to the Hepatitis B vaccine among elderly people. Finally, it has been proven that the Hepatitis B vaccine is one of the safest Vaccines available in the world.
authors: UNMSM.
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Vildozola
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D015994:Incidence; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines