[Immunogenicity of the Heberbiovac-HB vaccine in doses of 10.5 and 2.5 micrograms in 6-9-year-old students]. / Inmunogenicidad de la vacuna Heberbiovac-HB a las dosis de 10,5 y 2,5 micrograms en niños escolares de 6 a 9 años de edad.

The Heberbiovac-HB recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was administered at dosages of 10.5 and 2.5 micrograms in 3 groups of children aged 6-9 with a vaccination schedule at 0, 1 and 6 months of age. The immunogenecity attained between dosages was compared. The seroconversion with protective titres obtained at 2 months varied from 88.9% with 10 micrograms to 79.4% with 2.5 micrograms, whereas at 7 months it was higher than 98% in the 3 groups. The geometrical mean with 10 mg was 136.63 and 2,356.8 UI/L-1; with 5 micrograms, 77.62 and 1,958.9 UI/L-1; and with 2.5 micrograms, 32.15 and 376.3 UI/UL-1, at 2 and 7 months, respectively. A high immunogenic power of the vaccine is observed at dosages of 10 and 5 micrograms with similar results. In spite of the fact that the dosage of 2.5 micrograms is immunogenic, the response is not desirable. These results state the possibility of using a lower dosage (5 micrograms) for a low risk infantile population, which favors the cost-benefit.

[Infection/immunity by hepatitis B virus in an adult population of Havana City. Cuba 1995]. / Infección/inmunidad por el virus de la hepatitis B en una población adulta de Ciudad de La Habana. Cuba 1995.

The results of a study of markers of infection/immunity by hepatitis B virus in a community of the health area in "Cristobal Labra" polyclinics, City of Habana in 1995. The studied healthy adult population was not included in any vaccination strategy with hepatitis B vaccine. Two markers were studied: Hepatitis B surface antigen and its corresponding antibody (anti-HBs). HBsAg-positivity was 1.05% and anti-HBs positivity was 13.39%. Of anti-HBs-positive cases, 13.39% had titers from 10-50 UI/L and the rest (43.68%) had titers over 50 UI/L.

[Immunogenicity of the Heberbiovac-HB vaccine in the physically and mentally handicapped]. / Inmunogenicidad de la vacuna Heberbiovac-HB en impedidos físicos y mentales.

The recombinant DNA Heberbiovac-HB vaccine against hepatitis B was applied to 2 groups of children at 2 homes for the physically and mental disabled at doses of 10 and 5 micrograms with the scheme 0, 1 and 6 months to study its immunogenicity, which was evaluated at 2, 7 and 12 months after the first dose was administered. On the 60th day it was obtained 80.9% of seroprotection in children who received 10 micrograms, whereas in the group that was vaccinated with 5 micrograms 65.0% of seroprotection was attained and there were no significant differences between the groups. 100% of seroprotection (> or = 10 UI/L) was obtained in the 2 vaccinated groups when the immune response was measured 1 month after the third dose was applied. A year later, seroprotection was 100% for the 2 groups of children. The geometrical mean of the antibody titres (TMG) reached levels above 10 UI/L, which is the minimum protector, in the 2 study groups 30 days after the second dose. A month after the third dose, the TMG attained values of 527.7 UI/L in the group of 10 micrograms and of 324.7 UI/L in that of 5 micrograms. No remarkable differences were found between the groups (p < 0.05). Finally, 365 days later, the TMG descended to 139.7 UI/L and 57.3 UI/L in the same groups, respectively. It was demonstrated the high immunogenic power of this vaccine, which makes it recommendable for protecting the physical and mentally disabled children from hepatitis B virus.

[Adverse reactions and immune response to Heberbiovac-HB vaccine administered to infants simultaneously with DPT and VA-MENGOC-BC]. / Reacciones adversas y respuesta inmune de la vacuna Heberbiovac-HB aplicada a lactantes, simultáneamente con la DPT y la VA-MENGOC-BC.

The Cuban recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine (Heberbiovac-HB) was administered to 2 groups of infants aged 3 months. A dosage of 10 micrograms was used through a scheme of 0, 1 and 6 and 0, 1, 2 and 12, coinciding with the DPT and anti-meningococcal vaccines, according to the immunization schedule. Reactogenicity and immunogenicity were studied in both groups. The reactions observed were mild and similar to other studies, where fever , erythema and induration were the most common signs. These 2 groups had high percentages of children with titres of antibodies anti HBs above 100 UI/L-1. It is demonstrated the acceptable reactogenicity of the vaccine and the non-immunological interference of other vaccines.

[The immunogenicity of the Heberbiovac-HB vaccine in the elderly]. / Inmunogenicidad de la vacuna Heberbiovac-HB en ancianos.

The Cuban recombinant vaccine against the hepatitis B virus was applied to a group of individuals over 65 from a geriatric home in Havana City. Dose of 20 ìg were administered within a scheme from 0.1 to 6 months in order to study its immunogenicity, which was evaluated at 2, 7, and 12 months after the first dose. 47.1% of protective titres and geometrical mean of 6.04 UI/L were obtained after 60 days. 100% of seroconversion (UI/L) and seroprotection (10 UI/L) and geometric mean of 136.93 UI/L were obtained when the immune response was evaluated on the 7th month. Finally, after a year, seroconversion and seroprotection were also of 100%, and the geometric mean was of 204.61 UI/L. It was proved the high immunogenic power of this vaccine, which makes it recommendable to protect this age group from the hepatitis B virus.

[The immunogenicity of the Heberbiovac-HB vaccine in children]. / Inmunogenicidad de la vacuna Heberbiovac-HB en niños.

The Cuban recombinant vaccine against hepatitis B virus was applied with doses of 10 ìg to children under 15 in a scheme from 0, 1 to 6 months. The immunogenicity was evaluated at 2, 7, and 12 months and showed 100% of seroconversion with protective titres. 65.9, 100, and 83.5% of the vaccinated attained titres higher that 100 UI/L at 60, 210, and 360 days. The geometrical mean was of 213.6, 8208.2, and 568.0 UI/L, respectively. All the groups obtained 100% of seroconversion; however, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in favor of the preschool and school children compared with those over 10 as regards the response level (titres higher than 100 UI/L) and the geometrical mean of antibody titres in the 3 samples. It was demonstrated the high immunogenic power of the vaccine at these ages, which makes it recommendable for their protection against the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

[The reactogenicity of Heberbiovac-HB vaccine at different doses]. / Reactogenicidad de la vacuna Heberbiovac-HB a diferentes dosis.

Reactogenicity was measured after applying the Heberbiovac-HB recombinant vaccine against hepatitis B virus to three groups of children aged 6-9 years. The vaccine was derived from yeast cells, administered at doses of 10, 5, and 2.5 g, with a schedule of 0, 1 and 6 months. The overall observed symptomatology was low (12.2%) in the three groups with 10.7%, 13.5%, and 12.3% for 10, 5, and 2.5 g, respectively. The predominant symptoms and signs were febricula (7.0%), local pain (3.1%), and erythema (1.2%). No significant differences were found when making a comparison between groups and sexes. An acceptable reactogenicity of the immunogen was confirmed, thus its use is recommended for the protection against hepatitis B virus.