Immune Response to Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine in Term and Preterm Babies Received as per EPI Schedule

Abstract

Objective: To determine the immune response of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine
given according to EPI schedule and to compare the antibody response among term
and preterm babies.
Setting: EPI centre, Paediatric OPD and Department of Virology, Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Duration: May 2006 to April 2007.
Study Population: Thirty preterm and thirty term babies who received 3 doses of HBV
vaccination according to EPI schedule.
Outcome variables: Immune response to HBV vaccine according to gestational age, according
to birth weight and comparison of immune response among term and preterm babies.
Results: Thirty three percent infants were non-responder in all the groups and 50%
infants were good responders in 34-36 weeks and above. Total response was 80%
among preterm and 86.6% among term infants.
Conclusion: Most of the infants showed positive immune response and there was no
significant difference among term and preterm babies.

Key words: Efficacy of HBV vaccine; immune response; poor responder; good responder.

DOI: 10.3329/bjch.v33i1.5668

Bangladesh Journal of Child Health 2009; Vol.33(1): 1-5