Immunogenicity of hepatitis A-inactivated vaccine administered to seronegative infants, and serological follow-up 12 months after second dose.

Aim: To evaluate a) the safety and immunogenicity of anti-HAV-inactivated vaccine administered during the first year of life to anti-HAV seronegative babies, and b) the antibody persistence in a low/intermediate endemic area.

Methods: After having obtained informed written consent from mothers, 92 babies were vaccinated at 4 and 10 mo of age. All babies were seronegative at birth and did not present HAV-RNA shedding in three serial stool samples taken at 1, 2 and 3 mo of age.