Hepatitis B Vaccine Protection Fades Over the Long-Term

Over a fourth of individuals who received the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine showed signs of reduced seroprotection 18 years after vaccination, according to the results of a recent study.

Although protection granted by the HBV vaccine persists in the long-term, previous evidence has suggested that as time passes, this protection is reduced.
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For their study, researchers followed 722 students attending school from January 2014 to June 2016. All participants had received HBV vaccination.

Overall, positive Hepatitis B surface antigen (antiHBs) titer was found in 72.6% of the participants. Those participants who had been vaccinated during adolescence and adulthood were significantly more likely to be seroprotected, while longer times since vaccination were associated with reduced probability of seroprotection.

Following stratification by vaccine dose, the association was only statistically significant in participants who received doses earlier in childhood.

“In conclusion, our findings show that over 25% of HBV vaccine recipients had an antiHBs titer <10 mIU/ml after 18 years or more from the primary vaccination. Furthermore, in the case a booster dose would be needed, our results suggest that the vaccination strategy should prefer administration of a vaccine adult dose during early adolescence, since it might offer longer-term protection through adulthood.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Pileggi C, Papadopoli R, Bianco A, Pavia M. Hepatitis B vaccine and the need for a booster dose after primary vaccination. Vaccine. 2017;35(46)6302-6307.