title: Antibody persistence and the effect of a booster dose given 5, 10 or 15 years after vaccinating preadolescents with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
abstract: The persistence of antibody obtained post-vaccination of preadolescents with three doses of Engerix-B and the effect of a booster administered 5, 10 or 15 years later were monitored in 663 vaccinees. Five, 10 and 15 years post-vaccination >94% of subjects had detectable antibodies and 88.2%, 86.4% and 76.7% had a titre ≥10 IU/L; GMTs were 269 IU/L, 169 IU/L and 51 IU/L, respectively; 99.1-100% vaccinees reached a titre ≥10 IU/l post-booster. GMTs were 118012 IU/L, 32477 IU/L, and 13946 IU/L when the booster was administered 5, 10 or 15 years post-vaccination, respectively. We conclude that vaccination induces immunity in the great majority of vaccinees for at least 15 years. The response to a booster dose suggests persistence of immune memory in almost all vaccinees. Although a booster dose increases substantially anti-HBs titres, the clinical relevance of such an increase remains unknown. These results do not support the need of a booster for at least 15 years when vaccinating preadolescents with Engerix-B.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. vladimir.gilca@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gilca
authors.forename: Gaston
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Serres
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boulianne
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Wals
authors.forename: Manale
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouakki
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trudeau
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massé
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dionne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D013997:Time Factors; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C075654:Engerix-B; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic