REACTOGENICITY AND IMMUNOGENICITY OF INACTIVATED HEPATITIS-A VACCINES

Two inactived hepatitis A virus (HAV) candidate vaccine strain were tested, derived from strains CLF and HM1 75. Neither vaccine increased liver enzymes levels and reactogenicity was similar to that observed with other alum-adsorbed products. Antibody responses were dose-dependent and protection against HAV can be presumed to last for at least three years. All persons receiving 720 ELISA units (El. U) of the CLF vaccine seroconverted after one dose. For the HM1 75 vaccine, anti-HAV persisted until month 12 after injections at months 0 and 1, suggesting that the third dose of vaccine could be given at any time from month 6 to 12. A double dose of HM1 75 vaccine (1440 El. U) given as a single bolus resulted in 100% seroconversion by day 14 with a geometric mean anti-HAV level of 121 mIU/ml. This implies that rapid protection can be induced using large doses of inactivated HAV vaccine should time constraints dictate such an approach.