Comparison of the immunogenicity of reduced doses of two recombinant dna hepatitis b vaccines in New Zealand children

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Abstract
A group of 201 hepatitis B virus (HBV) sero‐negative children 1–12 years of age received either three 2 μg doses of Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) or Smith Kline and French (SKF) recombinant DNA (rDNA) hepatitis B vaccine I.M. at monthly intervals. Each recipient was tested 4–6 weeks later for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti‐HBs) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Ninety‐six 4–5‐year‐old children, given 2 μg doses of a plasma‐derived vaccine (MSD, H‐B‐Vax) I.M. at 0, 1, 2 months, were tested at the same time with the same assays, for comparison. Anti‐HBs responses and geometric mean titres (GMT) were significantly higher with the MSDrDNA vaccine (96% and 338.9 IU/liter) than with the SKF/r DNA vaccine (82.3% and 69.4 IU/liter). We conclude that for the protection of young children, 2 μg doses of the MSD rDNA hepatitis B vaccine may be used under similar circumstances in which 2 μg of the MSD plasma‐derived vaccine was used. Further studies are needed before the other rDNA hepatitis B vaccine may be used in lower than the 10 μg dose recommended in children.