Comparison of the Japanese and the international hepatitis B vaccine schedule

Abstract

We compared the international HB vaccine program with the Japanese HB vaccine program. A good responder was defined as having 100 mIU/ml or more of serum HBs antibodies. Eighty-one children were protected according to the international schedule and 60 children were treated with the Japanese schedule. The levels of serum HBs antibodies in children treated with the Japanese schedule were significantly higher than that in children treated with the international schedule one month after the 3rd vaccination and one year after birth. However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of good responders between the two schedules. In conclusion, the international HB vaccine program was as effective as the Japanese HB vaccine program. © 2010 The Japan Society of Hepatology.