Long term efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to hepatitis B e antigen-positive mothers.

The long term protective efficacy of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, administered alone or concomitantly with hepatitis B immunoglobulin, was assessed in 263 healthy neonates of hepatitis B e antigen-positive mothers. Infants received the first dose of vaccine at birth; additional doses were given at either Months 1, 2 and 12 or Months 1 and 6. During the follow-up period, which ranged from 2 to 4 years, protective titers (> or = 10 mIU/ml) of anti-hepatitis B surface antibodies were found in virtually all infants who had responded to the primary course of vaccination.