The immune response of healthy nigerian adults to small doses of hepatitis B vaccine: Comparison of 10- and 20-μg doses

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Abstract
The immunogenic effect of hepatitis B vaccine (H‐B‐vax) was evaluated in 120 seronegative healthy Nigerians. Three doses of the vaccine were given at 0, 1, and 6 months. Serial blood samples were tested 1 month after each vaccination for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti‐HBs) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc). Of 60 vaccines given 20 μg of the vaccine, 40% had significant anti‐HBs response 1 month after the first dose, 70% after the second dose, and 91.7% after the third dose. In the 60 vaccines given 10‐μg doses, the seroconversion rates were 35, 73.3, and 90%, respectively. It is concluded that this vaccine in 10‐μg doses is as effective as the larger doses in producing anti‐HBs. The administration of small doses would reduce the cost of large‐scale vaccination programs in developing countries.