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Early immunisation with hepatitis B vaccine: a five-year study
C Belloni1, A Pistorio, C Tinelli
1Division of Neonatal Intensive Care, IRCCS San Matteo, Viale della Libertà, 49-27100, Pavia, Italy. pistorioa@smatteo.pv.it
Insights
The recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) administered on an accelerated schedule induced better long-term immunologic memory in children. Early administration of the HBV vaccine is key for sustained antibody concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health concern.
- Effective vaccination strategies are crucial for preventing HBV transmission and long-term liver disease.
- Understanding the immunologic memory induced by different vaccine schedules is vital for optimizing public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the immunologic memory induced by an accelerated versus a traditional recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine schedule in children.
- To assess long-term antibody concentrations and response to booster doses.
- To determine the optimal timing for recombinant HBV vaccination for sustained immunity.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 200 children born to HBs-Ag negative mothers.
- Evaluation of serum antibody concentrations (anti-HBsAg) at seroconversion and after five years.
- Administration of an additional booster dose to children with low antibody levels.
Main Results:
- At seroconversion, the traditional schedule showed a higher percentage of children with anti-HBsAg concentrations >100 mIU/ml compared to the accelerated schedule.
- After five years, this difference was not statistically significant.
- A booster dose effectively raised antibody concentrations above 100 mIU/ml in all children who had levels below 10 mUI/ml.
Conclusions:
- Recombinant HBV vaccine administered earlier (accelerated schedule) leads to better long-term immunologic memory.
- Early HBV vaccination is associated with more robust and sustained antibody responses.
- Booster doses are effective in restoring protective antibody levels, ensuring long-term immunity.
Abstract:
We evaluated the response to the recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine using an accelerated schedule versus the traditional schedule by studying the immunologic memory induced in 200 children with HBs-Ag negative mothers. At seroconversion, the traditional schedule presented a higher percentage of children with serum HBs-Ag concentrations over 100 mIU/ml than the accelerated schedule. After five years this difference was no longer statistically significant and children who presented anti-HBsAg concentrations below 10 mUI/ml received an additional booster dose which stimulated the antibody concentration to exceed 100 mIU/ml in all cases. Recombinant HBV vaccine induced better long term immunologic memory when it was administered earlier.