VACCINES FOR HEPATITIS-A AND HEPATITIS-B - THE LATEST RECOMMENDATIONSON SAFE AND EXTENDED PROTECTION

Hepatitis A vaccines (Havrix and Vaqta), administered in two doses, pr ovide long-term protection. Target groups include international travel ers, children in high-risk communities, homosexually active men, injec ting drug users, persons who work with nonhuman primates, patients wit h chronic hepatitis, and recipients of clotting factors. The place of hepatitis A vaccination in the childhood-immunization schedule has not been determined. Postexposure prophylaxis for hepatitis A consists of administration of immune globulin within 2 weeks of exposure. Hepatit is B vaccines (Recombivax HE and Engerix-B), administered in three dos es, provide protective antibody levels in more than 95% of recipients. Duration of protection appears to approach 10 years. Booster doses ar e not currently recommended. Hepatitis B vaccination has been incorpor ated into the routine childhood-immunization schedule. Additional targ et groups include medical personnel exposed to blood products, househo ld and sexual contacts of infected persons, injecting drug users, and homosexually active men. Postexposure prophylaxis consists of administ ration of hepatitis B immune globulin as soon after exposure as possib le,along with the initial dose of vaccine if desired.