Immunogenicity of a recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix B) in children

Eighty-one children seronegative for markers of hepatitis B virus infection aged 0-10 years received 10 micrograms of a yeast-based hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix B) at 0, 1, and 6 months. Eighty subjects responded with a geometric mean titre of 7640 IU/L one month after the third dose. All seroconverters produced high level of antibodies regardless of age, race, or sex. It is concluded that Engerix B used in the dose and schedule described is highly immunogenic.