Immunogenicity of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in Iranian neonates: high frequency of unresponsiveness independeut of the carrier state of mothers

ABSTRACT

Immunogenicity of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was evaluated in a number of Iranian neonates. Of 1176 neonates vaccinated with triple doses of the vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months, 7.4% failed to respond and did not develop a protective titer of anti-HBs antibody [>/= 10 IU/1]. Titration of anti-HBs antibody allowed classification of both responder and non-responder vaccinees into negative or borderline non-responders and low, intermediate or high responders, respectively. Unresponsiveness to the vaccine was similarly represented in both male and female vaccinees. HBs antigen was negative in all responder and non-responder neonates tested and their mothers, suggesting lack of correlation between unresponsiveness of the neonates to recombinant HBs antigen and the carrier status of the mothers