Immunization of US soldiers with a two-dose primary series of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine: early immune response, persistence of antibody, and response to a third dose at 1 year

J Infect Dis. 1995 Mar:171 Suppl 1:S61-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/171.supplement_1.s61.

Abstract

To study the feasibility of using inactivated hepatitis A vaccine for rapid immunization of US soldiers, 276 randomized seronegative volunteers received one of four regimens: two injections, on day 0 or one each on day 0 and 14, day 0 and 30, or day 0 and 180. A third dose was given on day 380. Among the 256 recipients of two doses, 99% responded with antibody (by ELISA) with few symptoms. A higher percentage of recipients of both doses on day 0 had antibody at day 14 (68% vs. 52% of all others, P < .03). The highest antibody concentrations (711 mIU/mL on day 240) were observed in subjects given a second dose on day 180. Recipients of the third injection developed a median 15-fold rise in antibody within 2 weeks. Virus-neutralizing antibody was detected in high titers after the third dose and neutralized strains of hepatitis A virus from several countries. Vaccines containing 1440 ELISA units of antigen may be useful for rapid immunization.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Hepatitis A Antibodies
  • Hepatitis A Vaccines
  • Hepatitis A Virus, Human / immunology*
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood*
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Military Personnel*
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / immunology
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / immunology*
  • Washington

Substances

  • Hepatitis A Antibodies
  • Hepatitis A Vaccines
  • Hepatitis Antibodies
  • Vaccines, Inactivated
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines