Scheduling of revaccination against hepatitis B virus

Lancet. 1991 May 18;337(8751):1180-3. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(91)92857-x.

Abstract

Studies have shown that to maintain protection against infection after a primary course of hepatitis B immunisation, revaccination can be scheduled on the basis of an anti-hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBs) titre obtained 1 month after the booster dose. However, schemes which require post-booster testing may present practical difficulties. We applied a random-effects regression model to data from 118 Senegalese infants given three injections of hepatitis B vaccine about 6 weeks apart and a booster injection at 13 months, and show that revaccination can be scheduled on the basis of an anti-HBs titre recorded at the time of the booster dose. We also show that titre-at-booster is no less accurate in predicting future titre than 1-month post-booster titre. In several other studies the post-booster decline in anti-HBs conforms to the same mathematical description, indicating the generality of our findings.

MeSH terms

  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / analysis
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule*
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Infant
  • Regression Analysis
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage*
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines