Hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants. Issue 2 (1st September 1997)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Fu-Yuan; Lee, Ping-Ing; Lee, Chin-Yun; Huang, Li-Min; Chang, Luan-Yin; Liu, Su-Chin
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 77:Issue 2(1997)
• Page Start: F135
• Page End: F138
• Publication Date: 1997-09-01
• Subjects: hepatitis B vaccine -- prematurity -- antibodies; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Newborn infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Fetus -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920105
• DOI: 10.1136/fn.77.2.F135
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-2998

Abstract

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.