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Immunogenicity of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine: comparison of two different vaccination schedules
S Agladioglu1, U Beyazova, A D Camurdan
1Gazi University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Delaying the first dose of the hepatitis B (HB) vaccine to 2 months of age in infants born to HB surface antigen-negative mothers results in a stronger and potentially longer-lasting immune response compared to neonatal vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Neonatal hepatitis B (HB) vaccination establishes protective antibody levels in most infants.
- However, the long-term duration of protection and factors influencing it remain incompletely understood.
- Lower antibody levels are observed when the initial HB vaccine dose is administered immediately after birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the immunogenicity of two distinct hepatitis B (HB) vaccine schedules in infants.
- To evaluate the impact of vaccine timing on antibody responses in infants born to HB surface antigen-negative mothers.
Main Methods:
- Infants received three doses of HB vaccine at either 0, 2, and 9 months (Group 1) or 2, 4, and 9 months (Group 2).
- Anti-HBs titers were measured in 267 blood samples an average of 14.2 months post-vaccination.
- Sera were analyzed for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc using enzyme immunoassay kits.
Main Results:
- Group 2 infants (vaccinated at 2, 4, 9 months) exhibited significantly higher anti-HBs geometric mean titers (379.51 IU/L) compared to Group 1 (95.00 IU/L).
- A greater proportion of Group 2 infants achieved anti-HBs levels > or =100 IU/L (94.9%) versus Group 1 (57.7%).
Conclusions:
- Postponing the initial HB vaccine dose until 2 months of age enhances the immune response.
- This delayed vaccination schedule may confer more durable protection against hepatitis B.
Background:
Neonatal immunization with hepatitis B (HB) vaccine induces protective levels of antibody (anti-HBs > or =10 IU/L) in a majority of vaccines. However, the duration of protection after HB vaccination in infants is unknown. A smaller proportion of children vaccinated beginning at birth with three doses of HB vaccine were found to have protective titers 5-10 years after initial vaccination. Long-term efficacy of HB vaccine depends mainly on peak antibody levels after vaccination, and subjects were observed to have lower levels of antibodies if they received the first dose of vaccine immediately after birth. The aim of our study was to compare the immunogenicity of two different HB vaccine schedules in infants born to HB surface antigen-negative mothers.
Methods:
Anti-HBs titers in infants vaccinated with two different schedules were compared. Infants were vaccinated at 0, 2, and 9 months (group 1) or at 2, 4, and 9 months (group 2). In total, 267 blood samples were analyzed at a mean of 14.20 +/- 2.39 months after the third vaccine dose. Sera were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) using commercial enzyme immunoassay kits.
Results:
The geometric mean titers for anti-HBs were 95.00 and 379.51 IU/L and the rates of anti-HBs more than > or =100 IU/L were 57.7 and 94.9% in group 1 and 2 infants, respectively.
Conclusion:
Delaying the first dose of the HB vaccine until 2 months after birth produces a higher immune response and can provide longer term protection.
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