Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib), prevalent diseases in Alaska Native infants, have been reduced 95% following universal vaccination. Therefore, we were interested in studying a new combined Hib and hepatitis B vaccine in this population.
Method: Healthy Alaska Native infants free from Hib and hepatitis B exposure were randomized into four groups, three with different lots of bivalent Hib and hepatitis B vaccine, and one with Hib and hepatitis B monovalent controls. The Hib component had 7.5 micrograms of polyribosylribitol phosphate polysaccharide (PRP) bound to 125 micrograms of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein complex (OMP); the hepatitis B component was 5 micrograms of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen. The vaccines were given at 2 months, 4 months, and 12-15 months of age.
Results: There were no differences in the responses to the bivalent compared to the monovalent controls except for a lower Hib anti-PRP level at 12-15 months in the bivalent recipients; this did not persist after the booster.
Conclusion: A combined Hib and hepatitis B vaccine appears immunogenic. The recommended schedule for the Hib component (PRP-OMP) of 2 months, 4 months, and 12-15 months appears to promote an optimal response to the hepatitis B component as well.