ADMINISTRATION OF HEPATITIS-A VACCINE TO A MILITARY POPULATION BY NEEDLE AND JET INJECTOR AND WITH HEPATITIS-B VACCINE

Military personnel are an important target population for hepatitis A immunization. Soldiers are often given vaccines by jet injector and ma y be required to receive multiple vaccines at one time. Formalin-inact ivated hepatitis A vaccine containing 360 ELISA units of antigen was e valuated at Fort Campbell. Volunteers received vaccine at 0, 1, and 6 months as follows: group 1, hepatitis A vaccine by needle; group 2, he patitis A vaccine by jet injector; group 3, hepatitis B vaccine by nee dle; and group 4, both hepatitis vaccines by needle in separate arms. Immune response and reactogenicity were evaluated. After two doses, re cipients of vaccine administered by jet injector had a higher prevalen ce of antibody than those who received vaccine by needle (93% vs, 79%) . By the 8th month, the vaccine was 100% immunogenic by either route o r with hepatitis B vaccine. No interaction between hepatitis A and B v accines was detected.