HEPATITIS B IMMUNISATION WITH A REDUCED NUMBER OF DOSES IN NEWBORN BABIES AND CHILDREN

Abstract 74 healthy babies born to mothers positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were randomly divided at birth to receive either HB immunoglobulin and 2 doses of HB vaccine 2 months apart, or HB immunoglobulin and 3 doses of HB vaccine 1 month apart. 80 healthy babies born to HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HB core (c) negative mothers were randomly divided at birth to receive either 2 doses of vaccine 2 months apart or 3 doses 1 month apart. The seroconversion rates and the geometric means of anti-HBs titres were lower in both groups of babies given 2 doses of vaccine than in the groups given 3 doses. 60 pairs of children at risk, aged 1 to 12 years and HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc negative, were randomly divided to receive either the 2-dose regimen or the 3-dose regimen. The seroconversion rates and the geometric means of anti-HBs titres were satisfactory in both groups.