Accelerated hepatitis B vaccination: Efficacy in young, regular blood donors

Background and Objectives: Hepatitis B (HB) – a vaccine-preventable, transfusion-transmitted infection – has been estimated to have high residual risk, especially in medium- and high-endemic areas. This potent immunogenic vaccine is routinely injected at 0, 1, and 6 months. Accelerated schedule has been recommended in adults to increase the completion rate. We studied the response rate of accelerated schedule in young, regular blood donors in a high-prevalence area for HB virus (HBV) in Iran. Methods: Young, regular nonimmunized blood donors were vaccinated with recombinant DNA HB surface antigen vaccine (Pasteur Institute of Iran) containing 20 μg of material in 1-ml solution injected intramuscularly to the deltoid muscle at 0, 1, and 2 months. HB surface antibody (HBsAb) was titered 1 month after the completion of doses. Nonresponders took one additional dose and tested a month later. Results: A total of 357 donors with a mean age of 26 ± 3.5 years were enrolled, of whom 287 donors completed three doses of vaccination (80% adherence rate). HBsAb titer was >10 IU/ml in 274 donors (95.5% response rate), whereas after one booster dose injection, the titer in 13 nonresponder persons (4.5%) increased to >10 IU/ml. Conclusion: Accelerated HBV vaccination with near 100% response rate and 80% adherence rate in young, regular blood donors has been successful in the immunization of young blood donors. This strategy improves not only blood safety but also donors' health.