EFFICACY OF HEPATITIS-B VACCINE IN A RURAL-COMMUNITY IN MURANGA, KENYA

One hundred and seventy four high risk cases were vaccinated at Murang a district in Kenya. The plasma derived HB vaccine was used in 61 case s (group 1) and recombinant HB vaccine was used in 113 cases (group 2) . Fifty five cases (90.2%) in group 1 and 112 (99.1%) cases in group 2 seroconverted. Anti-HBc seroconversion occurred in one case during th e study period. Significant anti-HBs seroconversion were obtained both for plasma derived HB vaccine and recombinant HB vaccine. In infants, there was statistically significant difference between the geometrica l men of anti HBs tires in group 1 and that in group 2. The recombinan t vaccine was more effective than the plasma derived vaccine.