Efficacy of low dose intra-dermal hepatitis B vaccination schedule

Efficacy of low-dose, intra-dermal hepatitis B vaccination was assessed among sixty-one doctors and paramedical staff of Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups. Group-A (n = 25) received 20 micrograms of purified Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (Euvax B, LG Chemicals) by i.m. injection in the deltoid by 0, 1 and 6 schedule while group B (n = 36) received 5 micrograms intra-dermally by same schedule. The mean value of HBsAb titers checked 4 weeks after the last dose in group A were 158.6 +/- 51.8 mlU/ml and that in Group B were 68.2 +/- 26.6 mlU/ml (p < 0.0001; 95% C.I. 69.2 and 111.5). Number of subjects attaining the protective titers of 10 mlU/ml in group A was 95.7% and that in group B was 90.9% (p = 0.5). We conclude that 5 micrograms intradermal hepatitis B vaccination is effective.