title: Serum level of anti-hepatitis B surface antigen 6-8 years after hepatitis B vaccination at birth.
abstract: The duration of protection after hepatitis B vaccination in children is unknown. We determined the serum level of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBsAg) in 273 randomly selected 7-9-year-old schoolchildren from Zanjan City, Islamic Republic of Iran, who had been fully vaccinated against hepatitis B starting at birth. Titres < or = 10 mlU/mL were considered unprotective. Just over half of the children (52%) had titres < or = 10 mlU/mL with no difference between the sexes, while 81 (29.7%) had no anti-HBsAg (0 mlU/mL). Three of the children had antibodies to hepatitis B core protein. More studies are needed to determine the necessity for or timing of booster doses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Vali-Asr Medical Centre, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Islamic Republic of Iran. SAN_Kazemi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koosha
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rafizadeh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mousavinasab
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahram
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines