Hepatitis B immunisation--is there a need to assess individual response to the vaccine?

The response to the new recombinant DNA vaccine has been shown to be variable, with sero-conversion rates ranging from 90-99% being quoted. This study was designed to assess the response to one of the new second generation Hepatitis B vaccines. Of the 955 who had completed the immunisation schedule, of three doses post vaccination testing was carried out in 117. Of these 117, six failed to show any antibodies to the Hepatitis B surface antigen (NBs Ag), and a further seven had a low antibody titre which was considered insufficient to give them adequate protection against the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). So in effect, a total failure rate of 11% was demonstrated. It is concluded that all vaccine recipients should be screened to assess their individual response.