The success of childhood vaccination against hepatitis B relies on persistence of immunity into adolescence and adulthood. In 2000, two hexavalent vaccines with a hepatitis B component (Hexavac, Infanrix hexa) were introduced in Germany. Hexavac was withdrawn in 2005 amidst concerns about its long-term hepatitis B protection. We compared hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) levels in childre...

10 Ten years have elapsed since routine vaccination of infants and of 12-year-old adolescent was implemented in Italy. 11 In this period, evidence has accumulated on the epidemiological impact of universal immunisation. 12 Coverage is on average >90% and is ≥95% in many areas of the country. Incidence of acute hepatitis B, that was already declining before 1991, was further decreased by routine...

Hypotensive-hyporesponsive episodes are rare events after immunizations performed for diphtheria, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B virus vaccines, but most of the reported episodes have been associated with pertussis-containing vaccines. We report the case of a 3-month-old girl, previously healthy otherwise, presenting with the unusual event of a hypotonic-hyporesponsive e...

Compliance with and responses to the hepatitis B vaccine were evaluated in remaining quilombo communities in Central Brazil. A total of 708 individuals who were susceptible to hepatitis B virus infection were invited to participate in the hepatitis B vaccination program in eight communities. Although 567 (80%) individuals received the first dose, only 198 (28%) complied with the full vaccinatio...

Edible vaccines are sub-unit vaccines where the selected genes are introduced into the plants and the transgenic plant is then induced to manufacture the encoded protein. Edible vaccines are mucosal targeted vaccines where stimulation of both systematic and mucosal immune network takes place. Foods under study include potatoes, bananas, lettuce, rice, wheat, soybean, corn and legumes. Edible va...

1 introduction of vaccines for hepatitis A and B and testing of the blood supply for hepatitis C. Other forms of acute hepatic injury have not changed appreciably in incidence, and Significant portions of this monograph have previously been published in Clinical Chemistry, and are reproduced here by permission of the Editor.

Background: Thalassemia patients are more susceptible to hepatitis than the normal population due to the frequent blood transfusions. Objective: To determine the immune response of children with major ß-thalassemia, by measuring anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs Ab) following the last HBV vaccine injection. Methods: This study was carried out on 215 thalassemic children who received t...

Mankind probably has known viral hepatitis for many centuries; however, the major and most dramatic developments in our knowledge of these diseases have taken place during the second half of the 20th century. During this relatively short period of time, the infectious nature of hepatitis A, B, and C has been proven, leading to their identification and description. The advent of serologic marker...

A phase III randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in the urban neighborhoods of Delhi to assess whether Oral Rotavirus Vaccine ROTAVAC® interferes with the immune response to childhood vaccines when coadministered. Infants aged 6 weeks were randomized to receive three doses of either ROTAVAC® or placebo along with childhood vaccines: Oral Polio Vaccine and vaccines agai...

Vaccines routinely recommended for HIV-infected adults include those for influenza, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, pneumococcal infection, and tetanus. Responses to vaccination may be affected by CD4+ cell count and viral load. A number of live vaccines are contraindicated in the HIV-infected population. This article summarizes a presentation on immunization in HIV-infected adults made b...