The Hepatitis B Vaccine Booster Response Among the Youth Who Had Completed Neonatal Hepatitis B Vaccines

Summary

At the time of the present study, the necessity for booster vaccinations for the prevention of hepatitis B(HB) 15 years post-vaccination in the group of young adults who have become seronegative for HB markers after complete neonatal HB vaccination was in question. A booster vaccination strategy may lead to a significant economic impact on national health care resources, and the costs/benefits must therefore be carefully evaluated. Unfortunately, the data to support such analyses are lacking. Because an increased risk of HB infection is anticipated when adolescents enter into young adulthood through becoming sexual active, breakthrough infections such as fulminant HB might be the main concern instead of the risk of chronic HB carriage. To address this issue, this study aimed to measure the booster responses after HB vaccination in seronegative young adults who had completed neonatal HB vaccines in Taiwan before.

Timeline

Start

2007-08

Primary completion

2009-01

Completion

2009-02

Drugs

Indications