SIMULTANEOUS INJECTION OF HEPATITIS-B VACCINE WITH BCG AND KILLED POLIOVIRUS VACCINE

In most developing countries, hepatitis B virus is endemic and prevent ion has to be carried out early in life and on a mass scale. In these regions, simultaneous administration of multiple antigens is normal pr actice. We have therefore investigated the interaction of hepatitis B vaccine with BCG and inactivated polio vaccine. The serological antibo dy response to poliovirus and HBsAg as well as the cellular immune res ponse to tuberculin post BCG immunization were assessed. The immune re sponses to HBsAg, BCG and polio vaccines injected simultaneously were comparable to those observed after separate administration of each vac cine. Moreover, no increase of adverse reactions was noted. Results co nfirmed that HB vaccine could be introduced into the WHO expanded prog rammes on immunization without impairing the expected protective effic acy against the targeted vaccine-preventable diseases.