Hepatitis B vaccine in the prevention of perinatally transmitted hepatitis B virus infections: initial report of a study in the West Midlands of England.

A study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine in interrupting perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus from carrier mothers to their babies. A four-dose schedule was used. Eight of nine babies of e antigen carrier mothers became actively immune when immunisations were started within 48 hr of birth. Effectiveness was reduced if immunisation was delayed. This report includes results from a total of 32 babies, the longest period of follow-up being 2 years. The success of this scheme is comparable to that of more intensive prophylaxis of immunoglobulin either alone or combined with vaccine and should be seriously considered for the babies of all hepatitis B carrier mothers.