Dr. David P. Greenberg, from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and colleagues assessed the immune-related outcomes of 280 healthy infants who were randomized to receive one of two vaccine regimens.

The combination vaccine regimen consisted of DTPa-HepB vaccine given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age along with Haemophilus influenzae type b and oral poliovirus vaccines. The standard vaccine regimen differed only in that the HepB vaccine was given separately at birth, 1 month, and 6 months of age.

The researchers' findings are published in the August issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

One month after the last HepB vaccine dose, antibody levels to the HepB surface antigen were higher in the standard group than in the combination group (p < 0.001). However, HepB seroprotection rates were similar in both groups. Furthermore, seroprotection rates against all the other vaccine antigens were at least as high in the combination group as in the standard group.

The most frequently reported adverse events were fussiness and soreness at the injection site, the researchers note. The incidence of adverse events was similar between the groups.

"This is the first report of the immunogenicity of HepB vaccine with a 2-4-6-month schedule compared with a birth-1-6-month schedule," the authors point out. The findings indicate that HepB vaccine can be successfully combined with other vaccines, thereby reducing the number of injections required while still maintaining "excellent seroprotection against multiple pathogens," they add.

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2002;21:769-776.