Abstract
Vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine is the most effective way to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Whether a booster dose of hepatitis B vaccine is required in adolescence or young adulthood remains controversial, although booster vaccination is generally considered not necessary, even when anti-HBs levels decline the International Journal of Infectious Diseases (July 2017). In the editorial, Dr. Carmody advocated the results of an article published in an issue of Vaccine (2017 Feb 15) and considered that a booster dose in early adolescence is beneficial for children of HBsAg positive mothers, because the Vaccine article showed that the children born to HBsAg positive mothers are less protected from HBV infection in young adulthood by neonatal vaccination. I argue that, as the Vaccine article has some exceptionally unusual results which might be caused by the potentially flawed study design, the Vaccine article does not provide compelling evidence to support booster vaccination against hepatitis B. It should be cautious in the interpretation of exceptional results in evaluating the effect of adolescent booster of hepatitis B vaccine.
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