Efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine in a rural community in Muranga, Kenya.

One hundred and seventy four high risk cases were vaccinated at Muranga district in Kenya. The plasma derived HB vaccine was used in 61 cases (group 1) and recombinant HB vaccine was used in 113 cases (group 2). Fifty five cases (90.2%) in group 1 and 112 (99.1%) cases in group 2 seroconverted. Anti-HBc seroconversion occurred in one case during the study period. Significant anti-HBs seroconversion were obtained both for plasma derived HB vaccine and recombinant HB vaccine. In infants, there was statistically significant difference between the geometrical mean of anti HBs titres in group 1 and that in group 2. The recombinant vaccine was more effective than the plasma derived vaccine.