Immunogenicity of low doses of hepatitis B vaccine in children: A study in 650 New Zealand children

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Abstract
Six hundred and fifty New Zealand children from 2–12 years of age were vaccinated three times with 2 mcg intramuscular (IM) doses of Merck Sharp and Dohme plasma‐derived hepatitis B vaccine (H‐B‐Vax), at 0, 1, and 6 months, and tested 2‐‐3 months later for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti‐HBs) by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Overall, 96.5% of the children seroconverted for anti‐HBs by RIA, having levels greater than 2.1 RIA S/N units, with 91.2% having values greater than 10 S/N units. Anti‐HBs levels were also determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), by which method a significantly better response was demonstrated in 24‐year‐olds than in older children. This study demonstrated that a satisfactory anti‐HBs response was obtained using one‐fifth of the recommended doses of hepatitis B vaccine.