A comparison of low vs standard dose intramuscularly administered hepatitis B vaccine

In a randomised, controlled, single-blind trial we compared different doses of a yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis B vaccine: a low dose intramuscular (i.m.) regimen (using 2 micrograms at first followed by 1 microgram each at 1, 2 and 6 months) with the standard dose (10 micrograms each at 0, 1 and 6 months) for post vaccination anti-HBs seropositivity. At the end of 7 months, only 78% of volunteers on the low dose (n = 77) tested positive for anti-HBs whereas 100% of volunteers on the standard dose (n = 43) were seropositive. Therefore, low dose regimen is not satisfactory for primary HBV vaccination.