Korean J Pediatr.  2006 Jun;49(6):630-634. 10.3345/kjp.2006.49.6.630.

A study of the current(2003-2005) prevalence of anti-HBs and immunologic memory of hepatitis B vaccine in children from the central area of Korea

• An YW
• Chung EH
• Rheem I

• KMID: 2279884
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2006.49.6.630

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the current(2003-2005) prevalence of anti-HBs and immunologic memory for Hepatitis B vaccine in children from the central area of Korea.
METHODS
Subjects were chosen from children and adolescents who received tests for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) and anti-HBs at Dankook University Hospital from March 2003 to May 2005. Among these, antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen(IgG anti-HBc) were checked. A single booster vaccination was performed on children whose anti-HBs titers were under 10 mIU/mL. One month after booster vaccination we rechecked the anti-HBs titer.
RESULTS
A total of 3,277 subjects were tested for HBsAg/anti-HBs, and 1,913(58.4 percent) of them were positive for anti-HBs. Of these, 29 subjects(0.9 percent) were positive for HBsAg. Positive results for anti-HBs by age were 78.6 percent for 6-12 months of age, 62.7 percent for 1-3 years of age, 51.9 percent for 4-6 years of age, 49.5 percent for 7-12 years of age, 63.4 percent for 13-15 years of age and 72.2 percent for 16-18 years of age. The 80 subjects who were tested negative for HBsAg/anti-HBs received a single booster vaccine, 71 subjects were tested positive for antibodies. IgG anti-HBc titer was checked for 169 of the subjects, 5 subjects were positive.
CONCLUSION
In our study, a significant anamnestic response was observed in 88.8 percent of children. This is believed to be a result of the relatively long immunologic memory effect of the hepatitis B vaccination in children from the central area of Korea.

Keyword

Hepatitis B vaccine; Booster vaccination; Immunologic memory

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Antibodies
Child*
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B Vaccines*
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Immunologic Memory*
Korea*
Prevalence*
Vaccination
Antibodies
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B Vaccines
Immunoglobulin G