Hepatitis B Vaccine in Medical Staff of Hemodialysis Units

Abstract

We evaluated the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine (Heptavax-B) containing only the ad subtype in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial among 865 staff members of 43 hemodialysis units in the United States. Surface antibody developed in 92.6 per cent of the subjects after two doses of vaccine and in 96 per cent after the six-month booster. The incidence of infections with hepatitis B virus (with or without hepatitis) was 9.9 per cent in placebo recipients and 2.2 per cent in vaccine recipients (Pay subtype. The incidence of ay virus was 8.2 per cent among placebo recipients and 1.2 per cent among vaccine recipients (P<0.005). We conclude that these data confirm the efficacy of the vaccine and demonstrate subtype cross-protection. (N Engl J Med. 1982; 307:1481–6.)