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. 2022 Oct;76(4):1180-1189.
doi: 10.1002/hep.32474. Epub 2022 May 19.

Protection and antibody levels 35 years after primary series with hepatitis B vaccine and response to a booster dose

Michael G Bruce  1 , Dana Bruden  1 , Debby Hurlburt  1 , Julie Morris  1 , Sara Bressler  1 , Gail Thompson  1 , Danielle Lecy  1 , Karen Rudolph  1 , Lisa Bulkow  1 , Thomas Hennessy  1 , Brenna C Simons  1 , Mark K Weng  2 , Noele Nelson  2 , Brian J McMahon  1   3
Affiliations

Protection and antibody levels 35 years after primary series with hepatitis B vaccine and response to a booster dose

Michael G Bruce et al. Hepatology. 2022 Oct.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background and aims: The duration of protection from hepatitis B vaccination in children and adults is not known. In 1981, we used three doses of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine to immunize a cohort of 1578 Alaska Native adults and children from 15 Alaska communities who were ≥6 months old.

Approach and results: We tested persons for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) levels 35 years after receiving the primary series. Those with levels <10 mIU/ml received one booster dose of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine 2-4 weeks later and were then evaluated on the basis of anti-HBs measurements 30 days postbooster. Among the 320 recruited, 112 persons had not participated in the 22- or 30-year follow-up study (group 1), and 208 persons had participated but were not given an HBV booster dose (group 2). Among the 112 persons in group 1 who responded to the original primary series, 53 (47.3%) had an anti-HBs level ≥10 mIU/ml. Among group 1, 73.7% (28 of 38) of persons available for a booster dose responded to it with an anti-HBs level ≥10 mIU/ml at 30 days. Initial anti-HBs level after the primary series was correlated with higher anti-HBs levels at 35 years. Among 8 persons who tested positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, none tested positive for HBsAg or HBV DNA.

Conclusions: Based on anti-HBs level ≥10 mIU/ml at 35 years and a 73.7% booster dose response, we estimate that 86% of participants had evidence of protection 35 years later. Booster doses are not needed in the general population at this time.

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Conflict of interest statement

Nothing to report.

Michael G. Bruce: Substantial contribution to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, revision of the article and final approval. Dana Bruden: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and revision of the article. Debby Hurlburt: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis, drafting the article. Julie Morris: Substantial contribution to laboratory data acquisition, production and analysis. Sara Bressler: Substantial contribution to data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, revision of the article. Gail Thompson: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation. Danielle Lecy: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation. Karen Rudolph: Substantial contribution to laboratory data acquisition, analysis and interpretation. Lisa Bulkow: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and revision of the article. Thomas Hennessy: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and revision of the article. Brenna C. Simons: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and revision of the article. Mark K. Weng: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and revision of the article. Noele Nelson: Substantial contribution to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and revision of the article. Brian J. McMahon: Substantial contribution to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, revision of the article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Participant flow chart in a 35‐year follow‐up study of 1578 persons receiving three doses of plasma‐derived HBV vaccine in Alaska in 1981.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Protective level, booster dose response, and overall protective efficacy proportions for 22‐, 30‐, and 35‐year follow‐ups after a primary three‐dose series of HBV vaccine, Alaska.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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