SEROPROTECTION
FOLLOWING THE EGYPTION HEPATITIS B VACCINATION SCHEDULE IN INFANTS OF
HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN NEGATIVE MOTHERS
Mostafa Awny, Ahmed MN, Amr MZ, Abdel-Rahaman ME and Ahmed EG
Faculty of Medicine
The aims were to assess the seroprotection rate
following the egyption schedule of hepatitis at2,4and6 months of age and to
study the effect of prematurity, birth weight and other risk factors on
successeful seroconversion following vaccination of infants born
HBSAg-negative mothers The study was conducted on 60 infants born hepatitis
B surface antigen negative mothers serum antihepatitis B antibody
concentration was measured one month after the third vaacine dose(at 7
months of age) Hepatitis B seroprotection could be obtained in 100% of infants
with birth weight of 1500gms or more In very low birth weight
infants(<1500gms)seroprotection failure after the standard three doses
of hepatitis B vaccine was 37.5% which is unacceptably high It coult be
recommended that premature infants of birth weight<1500gms and those who
suffered from RDS or sepsis or recieved blood trasfusion or steroids early
in life should have their anti -HBS antibody level cheked after the age of
7 months to decide if they need a booster 4 th dose of HB vaccine between 9
and 12 month of age.