UNSPECIFIED. (1999) The predicted pattern of emergence of vaccine-resistant hepatitis B: a cause for concern? VACCINE, 17 (7-8). pp. 973-978. ISSN 0264-410X

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Abstract

We develop an epidemiological model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in The Gambia in order to investigate the possible patterns of emergence of a vaccine-resistant strain. Under pessimistic assumptions (e.g., the current vaccine provides no cross-immunity against the variant) the model predicts the variant will not become dominant over the wild-type for at least 50 years. Therefore the current low prevalence of variant infections is not evidence for high cross-immunity of the vaccine or for low infectiousness of the variant, but may simply be a consequence of the epidemiology of HBV. The efficacy of the present vaccine against possible variants needs to be evaluated now to determine whether vaccine modifications are required. However, the model also suggests that serological surveillance may be unable to determine this efficacy for 40-50 years. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR180 Immunology R Medicine
Journal or Publication Title:	VACCINE
Publisher:	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
ISSN:	0264-410X
Date:	26 February 1999
Volume:	17
Number:	7-8
Number of Pages:	6
Page Range:	pp. 973-978
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/14881

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