Hepatitis B vaccination among children in inner-city public housing, 1991-1997.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In November 1991, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended universal vaccination of infants in an effort to decrease transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV).1 Similar recommendations were put forward by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in February 1992 and later that year by the American Academy of Family Physicians.2 The recommendation was for 3 doses by age 18 months, with the first dose to be administered no later than at 2 months of age and preferably at birth before the infant was discharged from the hospital. Administration of dose 2 was recommended at 1 to 2 months after the first dose, and the third dose was scheduled for age 6 to 18 months. The unprecedented feature of the recommended schedule is to initiate a vaccine series at birth. This is possible for the HBV vaccine series because infants have adequate antibody response when initiation occurs at this age, and it is desirable because of the risk of vertical transmission in cases where the mother is HBV surface antigen positive or status unknown.