Hepatitis A booster vaccination: is there a need?

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 362; no. 9389; pp. 1065 - 1071
• Main Authors: Van Damme, Pierre, Banatvala, J, Fay, O, Iwarson, S, McMahon, B, Van Herck, K, Shouval, D, Bonanni, P, Connor, B, Cooksley, G, Leroux-Roels, G, Von Sonnenburg, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 27.09.2003; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Endemic Diseases - prevention & control; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A - immunology; Hepatitis A - prevention & control; Hepatitis A Vaccines - administration & dosage; Hepatitis A Vaccines - immunology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunization; Immunization Schedule; Immunization, Secondary - utilization; Immunogenicity; Immunologic Memory - immunology; Infant; Infectious diseases; Lymphocytes; Medical sciences; Public health; Tropical medicine; Vaccines; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Human; Hepatitis A virus; Picornaviridae; Booster vaccination; Vaccination; Hepatic disease; Hepatovirus; Infection; Virus; Prevention; Viral hepatitis A; Immunoprophylaxis; Viral disease; Digestive diseases; Public health
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14418-2

Hepatitis A is one of the most common vaccine-preventable infectious diseases in the world. Effective vaccines against hepatitis A have been available since 1992, and they provide long-term immunity against the infection. However, there is no worldwide consensus on how long protection will last or whether there will be a need for hepatitis A virus (HAV) booster vaccinations in the future. In most countries, booster-vaccination policy is guided by manufacturers' recommendations, national authorities, or both. In June, 2002, a panel of international experts met to review the long-term immunogenicity and protection conferred by HAV vaccine in different population groups. Data have shown that after a full primary vaccination course, protective antibody amounts persist beyond 10 years in healthy individuals, and underlying immune memory provides protection far beyond the duration of anti-HAV antibodies. The group concluded that there is no evidence to lend support to HAV booster vaccination after a full primary vaccination course in a healthy individual. However, further investigations are needed before deciding if boosters can be omitted in special patient-groups.