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Persistence of antibody and immunologic memory in children immunized with hepatitis B vaccine at birth

Dexter Seto1, David J West, Virginia A Ioli

  • 1Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Honolulu, HI 96826, USA. dexters@kapiolani.org

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|September 18, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Children vaccinated for hepatitis B at birth maintain strong immune memory. A booster shot at age 6 quickly restored protective antibody levels, even if initial antibody levels were low.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Vaccinology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Hepatitis B vaccination at birth is a standard public health measure.
  • Long-term persistence of vaccine-induced immunity in children requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the persistence of anti-hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBs) in children at 6 years of age.
  • To evaluate the immunologic response to a hepatitis B vaccine booster dose in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Healthy children (n=42) received hepatitis B vaccine starting at birth.
  • Anti-HBs levels were measured at 6 years of age.
  • Children received a booster dose and were re-evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Nearly 50% of children were seronegative for anti-HBs at 6 years.
  • All children demonstrated robust immunologic memory.
  • Booster vaccination rapidly restored protective anti-HBs titers (≥10 mIU/ml) in all participants.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood hepatitis B vaccination provides durable immunologic memory.
  • Booster doses are effective in re-establishing protective antibody levels, irrespective of initial serostatus.

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