Administration of Hepatitis A Vaccine to a Military Population by Needle and JetInjector and with Hepatitis B Vaccine

摘要

Military personnel are an important target population for hepatitis Aimmunization. Soldiers are often given vaccines by jet injector and may be required to receive multiple vaccines at one time. Formalin-inactivated hepatitis A vaccine containing 360 ELISA units of antigen was evaluated at Fort Campbell. Volunteers received vaccine at 0, 1, and 6 months as follows: group 1, hepatitis A vaccine by needle; group 2, hepatitis A vaccine by jet injector; group 3, hepatitis B vaccine by needle; and group 4, both hepatitis vaccines by needle in separate arms. Immune response and reactogenicity were evaluated. After two doses, recipients of vaccine administered by jet injector had a higher prevalence of antibody than those who received vaccine by needle (93% vs. 79%). By the 8th month, the vaccine was 100% immunogenic by either route or with hepatitis B vaccine. No interaction between hepatitis A and B vaccines was detected.