EFFECTIVE ANTIBODY-RESPONSE IN NEWBORN BABIES LIVING IN MALDIVES TO SIMULTANEOUS VACCINATION AGAINST HEPATITIS-B, POLIOMYELITIS, DIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS

The antibody responses of Maldivian infants early in their life to simultaneous immunization against hepatitis B virus, poliomyelitis, diphtheria and tetanus were investigated. The vaccines were given at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. Among 243 newborn babies from HBsAg-negative mothers, 103 received three doses of oral poliomyelitis (OPV) and diphtheria and tetanus (DTV) vaccines, 105 were similarly immunized but received in addition the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (HBV); 35 were immunized with the HBV recombinant vaccine alone. The antibody response to all of the vaccines was effective. No significant differences among the groups were observed. Hepatitis B vaccination of infants neither affected nor was affected by the contemporary administration of OPV and DTV vaccines.