title: Persistence of long-term immunity to hepatitis B among adolescents immunized at birth.
abstract: The long-term duration of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine-induced immunity among persons vaccinated starting at birth is still not well understood. Waning of vaccine-induced immunity could leave young adults at risk of hepatitis B virus infection due to behavioral or occupational exposures. We followed a cohort of children immunized starting at birth with a 3-dose regimen of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (5 mcg, 2.5 mcg, 2.5 mcg). They were challenged with a booster dose of the hepatitis B vaccine 10 and 15 years after vaccination to assess anamnestic response as a measure of persistence of protection. Among 108 participants who had lost protective antibody levels against hepatitis B, the majority (>70%) had an anamnestic response to the booster dose; response rates did not decline significantly between 10 and 15 years follow-up periods. A high antibody concentration following primary vaccination was independently associated with an anamnestic response later on in life. Nonetheless, ~20-30% of participants were unable to mount an immune response after boosting. Hepatitis B revaccination might be required for persons vaccinated starting at birth if opportunities for hepatitis B virus exposure exist. Future vaccine recommendations should be based on studies ascertaining protection against clinically significant disease.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. schaves@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Sandra S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Justina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groeger
authors.forename: Priti R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Nicola D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Eyasu H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Teshale
authors.forename: Kuartei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Taraz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Samandari
authors.forename: Saleem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamili
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drobeniuc
authors.forename: Dale J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008297:Male; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; C075655:Recombivax HB; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic