Hepatitis B Response of Premature Infants after Primary and Booster Immunisation with a Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Hepatitis B-Inactivated PoliovirusHaemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine

Abstract EN

A range of schedules are recommended for hepatitis B vaccination of premature infants.

This open-label study (217744/083) compared the immune response of premature (N=94) and full-term infants (N=92) to hepatitis B antigen following primary administration of hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine at 2–4–6 months and a booster dose at 18 months.

Anti-HBsAg antibodies were determined before and one month after primary and booster doses.

There were no significant differences in postprimary seroprotection rates (anti-HBsAg >10 mIU/mL; preterm 93.4%; full-term 95.2%) or geometric mean concentrations (634 versus 867 mIU/ml), and neither appeared to be related to gestational length or birth weight.

Prebooster seroprotection rates were 75 and 80.6%, respectively.

Six premature infants did not respond to primary and booster doses.

Primary and booster vaccinations with DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib elicit satisfactory anti-HBsAg responses in preterm infants, which are not influenced by gestational age or birth weight.

This schedule and vaccine will greatly facilitate the immunisation of premature infants.