[Preventive hepatitis B vaccination of hospital staff]

In March 1990, a vaccination campaign against hepatitis B was organized in a municipal hospital in Copenhagen (Bispebjerg Hospital). The hospital staff (830 subjects) at risk of infection with hepatitis B were offered vaccination with Engerix B. The vaccination was given as Engerix B (recombinant DNA vaccine) in muscle deltoid after 0, 1 and 6 months. Antibody level was measured after one month. A total of 362 (44%) received vaccination against hepatitis B and 86% of these completed the vaccination schedule and received at least three vaccinations. 95% of the vaccinated subjects were protected after three vaccinations (HBsAg more than 10 IU/l).

The recombinant DNA vaccine does not differ from the plasma-derived vaccine concerning immunogenicity and adverse reactions. There was a low compliance with the vaccination campaign, especially among doctors (35%) and laboratory technicians (35%), despite central organization.