Abstract.
Background: This is a report on the results of immunization of medical students with low-dose hepatitis B (HB) vaccine prior to starting clinical practice and evaluation of the efficacy of this vaccination scheme.
Materials and Methods: Low-dose (2 μg) recombinant HB vaccine was administered intramuscularly (im) at months 0, 1, 2 and 12 to 105 volunteers who wee HB surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HB core antigen (HBc) negative. Additional doses were administered after the third dose to the vaccines with anti-HBs titers below 10 IU/l.
Results: Protective anti-HBs levels (above 10 IU/l) were obtained in 73.3%, 95.6%, 100% and 92.8% of vaccines with geometric mean titers of 91, 61.6, 3,662 and 367 IU/l at months 3, 12, 13 and 44 months, respectively.
Conclusion: Long-term effective protection against HB could be obtained in medical students with this scheme. Low-dose HB im vaccination can be utilized as a cost-saving vaccination strategy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: May 10, 2001 · Revision accepted: July 1, 2002
S. Erensoy (corresponding author)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Erensoy, S., Bilgiç, A., Arda, B. et al. Low-Dose Intramuscular Hepatitis B Vaccination in Medical Students: 4-Year Follow-Up. Infection 30, 303–305 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-002-2078-1
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-002-2078-1