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- - - BOOSTER DOSE FOR PREVENTING HEPATITIS B INFECTION, A COCHRANE SUMMARY

Sunday, 21st of April 2013

• BOOSTER DOSE FOR PREVENTING HEPATITIS B INFECTION

Cochrane Summaries

Poorolajal J, Mahmoodi M, Haghdoost A, Majdzadeh R, Nasseri-Moghaddam S, Ghalichi L, Fotouhi A

Published Online: 

November 10, 2010

Antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) wane over time after vaccination for hepatitis B, hence the duration of protection provided by HB vaccine is still unknown. However, the presence of immune memory can be evaluated indirectly by measuring the anamnestic immune response to a booster dose of vaccine.

There were no eligible randomised clinical trials to be included in the review. There is no scientific evidence to support or reject the need for booster doses of HB vaccine in healthy individuals with normal immune status. We need evidence, based on randomised clinical trials to formulate future booster policies.

Background: 

Antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs) wane over time after vaccination for hepatitis B (HB); hence, the duration of protection provided by the vaccine is still unknown but may be evaluated indirectly by measuring the anamnestic immune response to booster doses of vaccine.

Objectives: 

To assess the benefits and harms of booster dose hepatitis B vaccination for preventing HB infection.

Search strategy: 

We searched The Cochrane Hepato-biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 4, 2010) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded, conference databases, and reference lists of articles to May 2010. We also contacted authors of articles and manufacturers.

Selection criteria: 

Randomised clinical trials addressing anamnestic immune response to booster of HB vaccine five years or more after primary vaccination in apparently healthy participants, vaccinated in a 3-dose or 4-dose schedules of HB vaccine without receiving additional dose or immunoglobulin.

Data collection and analysis: 

Two authors made the decisions if the identified publications on studies met the inclusion criteria or not. Primary outcome measures included the proportion with anamnestic immune response in non-protected participants and signs of hepatitis B virus infection. Secondary outcomes were the proportion with local and systemic adverse event events developed following booster dose injection. Weighted proportion were planned to be reported with 95% confidence intervals.

Main results: 

There were no eligible randomised clinical trials fulfilling the inclusion criteria of this review.

Authors' conclusions: 

We were unable to identify randomised clinical trials on the topic. We need randomised clinical trials to formulate future booster policies for preventing hepatitis B infection.

This record should be cited as: 

Poorolajal J, Mahmoodi M, Haghdoost A, Majdzadeh R, Nasseri-Moghaddam S, Ghalichi L, Fotouhi A. Booster dose vaccination for preventing hepatitis B. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD008256. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008256.pub2

Assessed as up to date: 

July 25, 2010