Clinical Infectious Diseases
Volume53, Issue1
Pp. 68-75.
Hepatitis B and the Need for a Booster Dose
Stanley Plotkin, Section Editor
+ Author Affiliations
Elke Leuridan and
Pierre Van Damme
+ Author Affiliations
Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease
Institute, World Health Organziation Collaborating Centre for the
Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium Correspondence: Elke Leuridan, MD,
Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp,
Universiteitsplein 1,Antwerp, B-2610, Belgium ([email protected]).
Abstract
After several decades of vaccination against hepatitis B virus in newborns,
infants, adolescents, and adults, the question remains whether a booster
dose is ever needed. Long-term protection is most commonly measured through
4 methods: the anamnestic response after administration of a booster dose,
infection rate in vaccinated populations, in vitro B and T cell activity
testing, and seroepidemiological studies. Long-term protection is present
despite a decrease in anti-hepatitis B surface antibodies over time. The
exact mechanism of long-term protection, however, is not yet fully
understood. There is no need for boosters in immunologically potent persons
as long as a full course was adequately administered that respected the
recommended timelines, as evidenced by studies conducted up to 20 years
after the original immunization course. However, a booster dose should be
planned for immunocompromised patients, based on serological monitoring.
Received December 28, 2010.
Accepted March 29, 2011.
