OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE WITH A YEAST RECOMBINANT HEPATITIS B VACCINE

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" Over a Decade of Experience With a Yeast Recombinant Hepatitis B

Vaccine "

Vaccine Online (08/20/99) Vol. 18, Nos. 1 and 2, P. 57; Assad, Safary;

Francis, Andre

Researchers from Kline Beecham Biologicals reviewed published

studies on the yeast recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, Engerix-B. The

reports found the vaccine to be safe, with only minor local symptoms,

and highly immunogenic in both monitored clinical tests and in field

conditions. The authors note that " a high protective efficacy has been

established in three groups at high risk of hepatitis B infection:

homosexual men, institutionalized mentally handicapped subjects, and

neonates of chronic carrier mothers. " In addition, they provide

up-to-date surveillance data based on the 496 million doses of the

vaccine that have been distributed.