Long-term efficacy of continuing hepatitis B vaccination in infancy in two Gambian villages

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(95)90822-6

The Lancet

Volume 345, Issue 8957, 29 April 1995, Pages 1089-1092

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(95)90822-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

In 1984, all non-immune children under the age of 5 years in the Gambian villages of Keneba and Manduar were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV). All children born in these villages since 1984 have been vaccinated in infancy. Despite a rapid fall in antibody concentrations, vaccine efficacy against HBV infection and chronic carriage of HBsAg has increased with time. Overall, vaccine efficacies in 1993 against HBV infection and chronic HBsAg carriage were 94·7% (95% Cl 93·0-96·0) and 95·3% (91·0-97·5), respectively. Breakthrough infections in vaccinated children largely originate from chronic HBsAg carriers. Thus, we tested 261 chronic carriers for HBV DNA and e antigen. The prevalence of these markers of infectivity, and the amount of HBV DNA, decreased greatly with age. Detailed studies of breakthrough infections over two 4-year periods revealed that in the second period there were fewer than half the expected numbers of infections. Our findings suggest that in Keneba and Manduar long-term vaccination is progressively decreasing HBV transmission by chronic carriers, since their infectivity diminishes with time.

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To evaluate the independent impact of newborn hepatitis B vaccination on reducing HBV prevalence in China, from its introduction in 1992 to 2006.
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Citation Excerpt :
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Long-term efficacy of continuing hepatitis B vaccination in infancy in two Gambian villages

Abstract

Lancet

Lancet

Lancet

Lancet

Cross-sectional and longitudinal epidemiology of hepatitis B in Senegal

Prog Med Virol

The first 2 years of the Gambia National Cancer Registry

Br J Cancer

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B antigen in Taiwan

N Engl J Med

The pattern of childhood hepatitis B infection in two Gambian villages

J Infect Dis