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Hepatitis A and B booster recommendations: implications for travelers.

Authors :
Zuckerman JN
Connor BA
von Sonnenburg F
Source :
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America [Clin Infect Dis] 2005 Oct 01; Vol. 41 (7), pp. 1020-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2005 Aug 29.
Publication Year :
2005

Abstract

Hepatitis A and B are serious vaccine-preventable diseases with a predominantly overlapping epidemiological distribution. Travelers, a term encompassing a range of individuals, are at risk of contracting these diseases if they are unvaccinated. Although the benefits of the primary vaccination course of hepatitis A and B vaccines are clear, the administration of hepatitis A and B boosters varies worldwide. Recommendations on the need for booster vaccinations have recently been published, and the implications of these recommendations for travelers are discussed in this review. Until a greater understanding is reached on the immunogenicity of hepatitis A and B vaccines in certain special groups (e.g., immunocompromised persons), there will be a need to monitor antibody levels to assess whether booster vaccinations are required. However, for the majority of immunocompetent travelers, the full primary vaccination course will provide protection from both hepatitis A and B infection in the long term, without the need for boosters.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1537-6591
Volume :
41
Issue :
7
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
16142669
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1086/433182