title: Antibody and immune memory persistence after vaccination of preadolescents with low doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
abstract: Little is known about the impact of low-dose hepatitis B vaccine on the persistence of anti-HBs and immune memory in school-age children. Recombivax-HB 2.5 μg (RB) has been widely used in school-age children. RB induces high seroprotectionrates, but relatively low anti-HBs titers. The main objectives of this phase of the study were to assess anti-HBs persistence and the presence of immune memory 10 years post-vaccination of 8-10 year-old children with 3 doses of RB and the persistence of anti-HBs post-booster dose administration 5 (Group A; n=250) or 10 years (Group B; n=263) post-vaccination. No significant difference was observed between GMTs and the proportion of subjects with anti-HBs titers ≥ 10 mIU/mL 5 or 10 years post-vaccination. In both groups, a 56-fold decrease of anti-HBs GMTs was observed. One month post-booster, all but two subjects in Group A had an anti-HBs titer ≥ 10 mIU/mL. A 4.9- and 11.4-fold decrease in anti-HBs GMTs were observed during the first year post-booster in Group A and B, respectively. One year post-booster, the two groups were equivalent: ≥ 98.8% of subjects had an anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/mL. In group A, five years post-booster, 96.8% had a titer ≥ 10 mIU/mL; the GMT was 17-fold higher than the GMT 5 years post-vaccination (p<0.0001). In both groups, there was a strong positive correlation (p<0.0001) between anti-HBs titers observed post-primary vaccination and at following study time points (r=0.70-0.90). Three doses of RB administered at the age of 8-10 years induce a 10 years long-lasting immunity in virtually all vaccinees. The booster does not appear necessary on a 10 years perspective.
authors: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Laval University, Québec, Canada. vladimir.gilca@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Gilca
authors: Gaston
authors: G
authors: De Serres
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Boulianne
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: De Wals
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Murphy
authors: Gisele
authors: G
authors: Trudeau
authors: Genevieve
authors: G
authors: Deceuninck
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Massé
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Duval
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; C075655:Recombivax HB; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic