In most developing countries, hepatitis B virus is endemic and prevention has to be carried out early in life and on a mass scale. In these regions, simultaneous administration of multiple antigens is normal practice. We have therefore investigated the interaction of hepatitis B vaccine with BCG and inactivated polio vaccine. The serological antibody response to poliovirus and HBsAg as well as the cellular immune response to tuberculin post BCG immunization were assessed. The immune responses to HBsAg, BCG and polio vaccines injected simultaneously were comparable to those observed after separate administration of each vaccine. Moreover, no increase of adverse reactions was noted. Results confirmed that HB vaccine could be introduced into the WHO expanded programmes on immunization without impairing the expected protective efficacy against the targeted vaccine-preventable diseases.

Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine were given at 2, 4 and 9 months of age to 220 Senegalese infants living in the Dakar area of Senegal. Half of the infants received 5 micrograms plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine (Hevac B) and the remainder 20 micrograms mammalian cell-derived recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (GenHevac B). Both vaccines contain S and pre-S2 encoded proteins; however, the recombinant vaccine had a much higher pre-S2 content than the plasma-derived vaccine. Adverse reactions to both vaccines were limited to mild and transient soreness at the injection site. Fever was reported in 14-21% of the infants and was likely to be related to DTP-polio vaccine which was given simultaneously. After the two first doses, seroconversion rates and geometric mean titres of anti-HBs were higher in infants receiving the recombinant vaccine than in infants receiving the plasma-derived vaccine. After completion of vaccination, all infants in both groups had protective levels of anti-HBs antibodies. The recombinant vaccine induced more rapidly antibodies directed against S and pre-S2 epitopes. Anti-pre-S2 antibodies were detected after the first injection of GenHevac B and only after the third injection of Hevac B. From the data, GenHevac B vaccine is expected to be as effective as Hevac B vaccine for controlling hepatitis B infection.

Journal Article Simultaneous injection of hepatitis B and measles vaccines Get access P. Coursaget, P. Coursaget 1Institut de Virologie de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, 2 bis Boulevard Tonnellé, 37042 Tours cedex, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar L. Bringer, L. Bringer 1Institut de Virologie de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, 2 bis Boulevard Tonnellé, 37042 Tours cedex, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar C. Bourdil, C. Bourdil 1Institut de Virologie de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, 2 bis Boulevard Tonnellé, 37042 Tours cedex, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar B. Yvonnet, B. Yvonnet 1Institut de Virologie de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, 2 bis Boulevard Tonnellé, 37042 Tours cedex, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar J.P. Chiron, J.P. Chiron 1Institut de Virologie de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, 2 bis Boulevard Tonnellé, 37042 Tours cedex, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar G. Sarr, G. Sarr 2Centre de Santé et de PMI de Pikine et Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar E. Jeannée, E. Jeannée 2Centre de Santé et de PMI de Pikine et Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar S. Guindo, S. Guindo 2Centre de Santé et de PMI de Pikine et Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar I. Diop-Mar, I. Diop-Mar 2Centre de Santé et de PMI de Pikine et Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar B. Fritzell B. Fritzell 3Pasteur-Mérieux Sérums et Vaccins, 923240 Marnes la Coquette, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 85, Issue 6, November 1991, Page 788, https://doi.org/10.1016/0035-9203(91)90455-8 Published: 01 November 1991 Article history Received: 05 November 1990 Revision received: 23 January 1991 Accepted: 23 January 1991 Published: 01 November 1991

A study of the tolerance and potency of a quadruple vaccine adsorbed on calcium phosphate was carried out in Senegal. After a follow up of four months the local tolerance was better when the vaccine was inoculated by intramuscular injection. A high level of passively acquired antibodies was found for the three subtypes of polioviruses and seemed to delay the immunological reaction. 90%, 96% and 92% of the total group of children involved in this study had a positive reaction.

Les vaccins adjuves sont responsables d'un certain nombre d'effets secondaires locaux dus au principe meme de leur mode d'action. La voie d'abord par laquelle l'injection est pratiquee joue un grand role dans l'incidence des reactions locales qui ici a l'exception d'un cas n'ont pas ete importantes (4, 5). La vaccination a ete commencee tot dans la vie et a pu etre genee par l'importance de l'immunite passivement transmise par la mere. Les resultats sont cependant tres bons dans les trois types en voisinant tous 90 p. cent de titres protecteurs. La haute purification de l'antigene poliomyelitique et l'adsorption des quatre elements antigeniques sur le phosphate de calcium ont ete un facteur de tolerance et d'efficacite