Response of Egyptian infants with protein calorie malnutrition to hepatitis B vaccination
El-Gamal, Y.; Aly, R.H.; Hossny, E.; Afify, E.; el-Taliawy, D.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 42(3): 144-145
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0142-6338 PMID: 8699579 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/42.3.144Document Number: 313838
The response to recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was assessed in 31 seronegative infants (2-26 months old) with protein calorie malnutrition (PCM), compared with 13 seronegative age- and sex-matched healthy infants. Both groups received three 10 micrograms vaccine doses at 0, 1, and 6 months. At month 8, all healthy infants and 87 per cent (27 out of 31) of PCM infants were seroprotected. Thus, hepatitis B vaccination (Engerix-B, SmithKline Beecham Biologicals) can be used effectively in PCM for mass vaccination in developing communities.