[Results of active preventive vaccination against hepatitis B with a German vaccine]

53 persons at high risk for hepatitis B infection have been vaccinated with a hepatitis B vaccine produced in the Hygiene Institute of the University of Göttingen. The vaccine proved to be without side effects in all vaccinees. Only minor complaints at the site of inoculation were registered. Three vaccinations are necessary. Protective antibodies were present in 96% of the vaccinees after the third inoculation. The female vaccinees developed anti HBs earlier than the males, moreover they showed significantly higher antibody titers. A simultaneous active and passive immunization is possible. To minimize the risk of contracting a hepatitis B or a non A- non B hepatitis as a result of the vaccination only such vaccines should be used which have been prepared from sera containing anti-HBe and which have been inactivated with a high dose of formaldehyde.