Abstract
Background: The short-term 0-1-2-months hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination schedule was previously proposed in the adult population; however, its long-term immune effect remains unclear. The present study was aimed to investigate 1) the 2-months and 2-year immune effect of HBV vaccination; and 2) compliance rate between 0-1-2-months and 0-1-6-months vaccination schedules in adults.Method: A total of 1281 subjects tested for HBsAg(-) and Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs)(-) were recruited. Participants from two distant counties were inoculated hepatitis B yeast vaccine for 10ug per dose each time, with 0-1-2-months (n=606) and 0-1-6-months (n=675) vaccination schedule, sequentially followed-up at two months and two years after the 3rd injection.Results: There was no statistical difference in anti-HBs seroconversion rate between 0-1-2-months and 0-1-6-months vaccination schedule at two months (91.96% vs 89.42%, p=0.229) and two years (81.06% vs. 77.14%, p=0.217). Quantitative anti-HBs level of 0-1-2-months vaccination schedule was not different with 0-1-6-months vaccination schedule at 2 months (anti-HBs1) (342.12 ± 378.42 m IU/ml vs. 392.38 ± 391.96 m IU/ml, p=0.062), but was higher at two years (anti-HBs2) (198.37 ± 286.44 m IU /ml vs. 155.65 ± 271.73 m IU /ml, p=0.048). By subgroup analysis, 0-1-2-months vaccination schedule showed better maintenance (p=0.041) and delayed reinforcement (p=0.019) in comparison to 0-1-6 vaccination schedule. The 0-1-2-months vaccination schedule also increased the 3rd-time injection completion rate (89.49% vs. 84.49%, p=0.010).Conclusion: the 0-1-2-months vaccination could obtain a similar short-term immune effect, but achieve a better long-term immune memory and a higher completion rate in the adult population.Trial registration: None