Antibody responses to Hepatitis A vaccine in healthy adults

Hepatitis A vaccination has been used in a number of settings to control community outbreaks of the disease. Yet United Kingdom guidance for post-exposure prophylaxis continues to promote the administration of human normal immunoglobulin, despite concerns about the administration of human derived blood products. Little is known about the time frame of the antibody response to hepatitis A vaccine which, if rapid, could permit the exclusive use of vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis. We report the findings of a pilot study in healthy adult volunteers given a single dose of Havrix monodose.