Accelerated Hepatitis A/B Vaccination Effective

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Accelerated Hepatitis A/B Vaccination Effective

ATLANTA, Apr 12 (Reuters Health) - Administration of a combined hepatitis

A/B vaccine over a 21-day period may prove more effective than the current

vaccination protocol that takes 6 months, researchers reported here this

week.

Dr. Jane N. Zuckerman, of the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine,

London, UK, and collaborators presented their findings at the 10th

International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease.

The group investigated 497 volunteers, some of whom received a combined

hepatitis A/B vaccine (Twinrix) on days 0, 7 and 21 and some of whom

received separate hepatitis vaccines, the hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) on

day 0 and the hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix- on days 0, 7 and 21.

According to the study, the rapid administration of the combined vaccine

yielded a stronger immune response against hepatitis A and B than the

monovalent vaccines. " The benefit of this method is that we can...provide

hepatitis A and B resistance to those who may need immediate protection,

such as travelers, " Dr. Zuckerman told Reuters Health.

" The combined antibody seems to be more effective than the administration of

either antibody alone, " she added. " We hope that by the end of the year the

Twinrix vaccine will be approved for use on the 0-, 7- and 21-day schedule. "

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