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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1997;77:F135-F138 doi:10.1136/fn.77.2.F135
  • Original article

Hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants

  1. Fu-Yuan Huang,
  2. Ping-Ing Lee,
  3. Chin-Yun Lee,
  4. Li-Min Huang,
  5. Luan-Yin Chang,
  6. Su-Chin Liu
  1. Department of Paediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
  1. Dr Chin-Yun Lee, Department of Paediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Accepted 18 April 1997

Abstract

AIM To investigate the immunogenicity and safety of existing recommendations for hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants.

METHODS Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-VAX II, 5 μg per dose) was given to 85 preterm infants divided into two groups, using two different schedules. Forty four group A infants with birthweights of < 2000 g received three doses at 1, 2, and 7 months of age. Forty one group B infants with birthweights of ≥2000 g received three doses at 0, 1, and 6 months of age.

RESULTS After vaccination, 42 infants from group A (95%) and 37 infants from group B (90%) developed protective levels of antibody. The final seropositive rate and the geometric mean concentration of hepatitis B surface antibody between the two groups were not significantly different. The immune response of preterm infants to hepatitis B vaccines was similar to that of term infants in a previous study.

CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants can be given hepatitis B vaccines using one of the above two different schedules, at a cutoff birthweight of 2000 g.

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