Hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants
Journal
Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition
Journal Volume
77
Journal Issue
2
Pages
F135-F138
Date Issued
1997
Author(s)
Abstract
Aim - To investigate the immunogenicity and safety of existing recommendations for hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants. Methods - Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-VAX II, 5 μg per dose) was given to 85 preterm infants divided into two groups, using two different schedules. Forty four group A infants with birthweights of < 2000 g received three doses at 1, 2, and 7 months of age. Forty one group B infants with birthweights of ?2000 g received three doses at 0, 1, and 6 months of age. Results - After vaccination, 42 infants from group A (95%) and 37 infants from group B (90%) developed protective levels of antibody. The final seropositive rate and the geometric mean concentration of hepatitis B surface antibody between the two groups were not significantly different. The immune response of preterm infants to hepatitis B vaccines was similar to that of term infants in a previous study. Conclusions - Preterm infants can be given hepatitis B vaccines using one of the above two different schedules, at a cutoff birthweight of 2000 g.
SDGs
Other Subjects
hepatitis B vaccine; antibody detection; article; birth weight; dose response; hepatitis B; human; human cell; human tissue; immune response; immunogenicity; major clinical study; newborn; prematurity; priority journal; serodiagnosis; vaccination
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Type
journal article