Immune response to an indigenously developed hepatitis-B (Shanvac-B)

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Vaccine 2002 Oct 4;20(29-30):3431



Immune response to an indigenously developed hepatitis-B (Shanvac-B) vaccine in a tribal community of India.

Murhekar M, Murhekar K, Arankalle V, Sehgal S
Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Post
Bag 13, 744-101, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, India

[Medline record in process]


Hepatitis-B infection is highly endemic among the primitive tribes of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. A pilot project of hepatitis-B
vaccination using indigenously developed (Shanvac-B) was initiated among the Nicobarese tribe in Car Nicobar Island. The 936 individuals negative for
HBsAg and anti-HBs were administered three doses of the vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months. The vaccine was found to be safe and efficacious with
sero-protection rates of 49.1, 86.9 and 96.7% after first, second and third
dose. Considering the high endemicity of the infection and small number of
the tribal population, it is necessary to initiate hepatitis-B vaccination
programme for this community. Since the vaccine was found to be
cost-effective, it could be adopted for hepatitis-B vaccination in this
community.

PMID: 12297387, UI: 22234449