Combination Hepatitis Vaccine Remains Effective In Long-Term Follow-Up.(Brief Article)

2001 SEP 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) --

by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - The results of a long-term follow-up study of adults and children vaccinated with hepatitis A and B virus (HAV, HBV) combination vaccines show that immune response persists for several years after vaccination.

In adults followed up to six years after vaccination and children followed up to five years after vaccination, protection against both viruses remained high, members of an international study team affiliated with the World Health Organization reported in the Journal of Medical Virology.

According to P. Van Damme and colleagues, University of Antwerp, at the 72(nd) month following vaccination, 100% of the individuals in two separate groups of adults between the ages of 17 and 60 years demonstrated antibodies to HAV in their sera.

In children divided into two age groups - one to six year olds and six to 15 year olds - the same results were observed at 60 months after hepatitis A/B vaccination.

Protection against HBV was also still high at follow up, ranging from 89% to 95% in the two adult groups and from 95% to 97% in the two groups of children.

The results of a five-year postmarketing surveillance system have shown adverse effects to be limited, with injection site reactions, some fever, and allergic-type reactions being the most commonly cited after vaccination ...