Immune response to GeneVac-B^Ⓡ (rDNA I.P. hepatitis B vaccine) in vaccinated persons with a standard schedule in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the immune response in people fully vaccinated against hepatitis B with the GeneVac-B^Ⓡ vaccine in Burkina Faso under actual conditions of use.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included individuals fully vaccinated with GeneVac-B^Ⓡ. For each consenting participant, sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Approximately 4 ml of whole blood was collected for immunological (anti-HBs, hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus, and anti-HIV) and biochemical (blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) testing. The anti-HBs titer was used to determine the immune response.

Results: A total of 392 participants were included in the study. The mean age was 35.5 ± 15.3 years. Approximately 56% had been previously exposed to hepatitis B virus. Overall, 380 participants had an anti-HBs titer ≥ 12 mIU/ml indicating a seroprotection rate of 96.9%, and 12 had a titer <12 mIU/ml, a nonresponse rate of 3.1%. Among the nonresponders, 11 (11/12; 91.7%) had high total cholesterol levels (>240 mg/dl), and 8 (8/12; 66.7%) were older than 40 years of age.

Conclusions: The results showed an excellent immune response to GeneVac-B^Ⓡ in our study population. However, age > 40 and high total cholesterol appear to be factors associated with nonresponse.