[Assessment of effectiveness and immunogenicity of hepatitis A vaccination in servicemen of Internal Forces of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia].

Aim: Comarative assessment of immunological and epidemiological effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccination and duration of immunity after immunization in servicemen.

Materials And Methods: During 1996-2003, immunogenicity and epidemiologic effectiveness of 3 vaccines against hepatitis A--Havrix 1440 (GlaxoSmithKline, Belgium), Hep-A-in-Vac (Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides, Russia), and Avaxim (Sanofi Pasteur, France)--were evaluated. More than 15,000 servicemen were immunized during that time. In all cases one-dose vaccination without booster was performed.

Results: Several cases of acute hepatitis A were registered 12 months and 6-8 months after vaccination in military communities immunized with Havrix 1440 and Hep-A-in-Vac vaccines respectively. Usage of Avaxim vaccine as a single dose in field trials allowed to exclude new cases of acute hepatitis A during time of military service. It was shown that 5 years after single vaccination with Avaxim protective anti-HAV antibody level (20 IU/l) persisted in 90% of Internal Forces servicemen.

Conclusion: On the basis of performed complex of studies, system of antiepidemic measures was developed, which leads to decrease of hepatitis A incidence. Selective immunization is proposed.