• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.124-134
• /
• 2011

Purpose : We have tried to search all concerning data on the policies of hepatitis B vaccination or surveillance of medical equipments that can transmit blood mediated diseases, including disposable syringe, in Republic of Korea, to propose references to other medical professionals. Methods : Data from domestic journals, government websites, computerized newspapers, etc. were reviewed. The data were arranged into four categories (governmental policies on hepatitis B control, hepatitis B mass immunization program in school, using process of hepatitis B vaccine, and policies on medical equipments surveillance, including disposable syringes, which is considered as source of blood mediated infection), and the periodic changes on each subjects in policies were reviewed. Results : Due to growing social concerns on hepatitis B in early 1980s, swift introduction and production of hepatitis B vaccine was made. After establishment of "5 year project for eradication of hepatitis B" in late 1983, number of vaccinated population jumped up to 6 million within 2 years (1984-85). However, since the immunization targets were mainly adult, not infant, this project was annulled in late 1985. Following this project, hepatitis B mass immunization program in school was carried out. In year 1995, hepatitis B vaccine was included in national immunization program. The use of disposable syringe was recommended from year 1980 but legislated in year 1985, finally. Conclusion : The mainstay in controlling hepatitis B in Republic of Korea was coordination of prompt introduction of vaccine, mass immunization, high vaccination coverage rate, or use of disposable syringes. However, since there is lack of official data available, it is urgent to arrange and computerize all government data related to infectious diseases.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.160-167
• /
• 2001

Purpose : To assess the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of hepatitis A vaccine ($VAQTA^{TM}$) in healthy children and adolescents. Methods : Eligible subjects aged 2 to 17 years received 25 U/0.5 mL of $VAQTA^{TM}$ intramuscularly at 0 and 24 week schedule. Bleeds were obtained prior to vaccination and 4 weeks after the second dose to ascertain serostatus. To detect antibody to HAV after vaccination with an inactivated HA vaccine, a modification of the $Abbott^{(R)}$ HAVAB kit was used. Sample with titers ${\geq}10$ mIU/mL were considered seroconverted. Adverse experiences were monitored. Results : 102 subjects(54 male, 48 female) were enrolled. The mean age was $6.8{\pm}3.5$ years. Two subjects were seropositive, two were lost of follow up. 88 subjects were available for a per protocol analysis and 90 for all subjects with serology after the second dose, and ten withdral. All subjects(95% CI, 94.8~100) seroconverted. Geometric mean titers was 7,991.1(95% CI, 6,481.1~9,852.7) with very little difference in per protocol analysis and all subjects analysis. Adverse experiences to $VAQTA^{TM}$ were generally mild and transient. Conclusion : The pediatric two-dose regimen of $VAQTA^{TM}$ was found to be highly immunogenic, generally well tolerated and resulted in 100% seroconversion. Regarding Korea is in transition from a high to low risk region resulting in a paradox increase of clinical disease and disease burden, routine vaccination should be considered in order to control hepatitis A effectively.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.120-128
• /
• 2000

Purpose : Active immunization against hepatitis A with an inactivated vaccine reveals excellent immunogenicity, tolerability and protective efficacy. Inactivated hepatitis A vaccines have been selectively used since 1996 in Korea to prevent hepatitis A. This study was performed to assess the immunogenicity and reactogenicity after two doses of HM175 strain hepatitis A vaccine in healthy Korean children. Methods : 128 healthy children(M/F; 65/63) aged 1 to 15 years, who were seronegative for hepaitatis A, participated in this study. A alum-adsorbed vaccine containing 720 EL.U of antigen form HM175 hepatitis A strain per 0.5 mL dose was injected intramuscularly on the deltoid area. The second dose was given 6 months later, Anti-HAV antibodies were measured by ELISA before and 1 month after each vaccination to assess the immunogenicity. Any local and general adverse events were reported by patients parents with the prepared questionnaire after each vaccination. Results : 120 volunteers(M/F; 60/60) completed the whole series of the study. Seroconversion occurred in all cases after primary and booster vaccination. The mean anti-HAV antibody titer after primary vaccination was 389.2mIU/mL, and 3,609mIU/mL after booster vaccination. And levels of anti-HAV antibodies after booster immunization were significantly higher in female children. The most common local adverse event was soreness on the injection site, but it was mild and resolves within 3 days. Fever was not reported after booster vaccination. Conclusion : Based on these data, we conclude that the inactivated HM175 strain hepatitis A vaccine is highly immunogenic and tolerable in healthy Korean children.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2008

Purpose : This post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study was conducted in Korea to assess the safety and reactogenicity of hepatitis A vaccine (GlaxoSmithKlineBiologicals'$Havrix^{TM}$) administered to the Korean population. Methods : A total of 1,188 healthy subjects with 1,122 subjects <6 years of age were enrolled to receive one dose of the hepatitis A vaccine from April 2005 to January 2006. Diary cards were provided to the subjects or subjects' parents for reporting solicited and unsolicited symptoms during the 4-day and 31-day post-vaccination follow-up period. Results : The number of subjects who returned diary cards was 568, whereas, 620 subjects did not return diary cards. Among the subjects who returned diary cards, 9.9% and 14.3% reported local and general solicited/unsolicited symptoms. Among the subjects who did not return diary cards, 1.6% and 8.4% reported local and general solicited/unsolicited symptoms. At least one unsolicited symptom was reported by 13.2% of the subjects. Conclusion : Results indicate that the vaccine was well-tolerated and had an acceptable safety profile. The use of diary cards in such a survey provided a prompt and reliable option for recording symptoms.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.1042-1048
• /
• 2006

Plasmid DNA vaccines encoding the hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface and hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope antigens, respectively, were constructed, and attempt were made to find the possibility of a divalent vaccine against HBV and HCV. The expression of each plasmid in Cos-1 cells was confirmed using immunocytochemistry. To measure the induced immune response by these plasmids in vivo, female BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with $100\;{\mu}g$ of either both or just one of the plasmids. Anti-HBV and HCV-specific antibodies and related cytokines were evaluated to investigate the generation of both humoral and cellular immune responses. As a result, specific anti-HBV and anti-HCV serum antibodies from mice immunized with these plasmids were observed using immunoblot. The levels of IL-2 and RANTES showing a $Th_{1}$ immune response were significantly increased, but there was no change in the level of IL-4 ($Th_{1}$ immune response) in any of the immunized groups. Compared with each plasmid DNA vaccine, the combined vaccine elicited similar immune responses in both humoral and cell-mediated immunities. These results suggest that the combined DNA vaccine can induce not only comparable immunity experimentally without antigenic interference, but also humoral and $Th_{1}$ dominant cellular immune responses. Therefore, they could serve as candidates for a simultaneous bivalent vaccine against HBV and HCV infections.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.304-304
• /
• 1999

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.337-338
• /
• 1998

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.7
• /
• pp.690-695
• /
• 2008

The age-specific anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence rates in South Korea have changed markedly since the last 2030 years with an improvement in the socio-economic, housing, and environmental-sanitation conditions. These changes are characterized by very low anti-HAV seropositive rates among individuals less than 30 years of age; however, nowadays, most adolescents and young adults at an increased risk of developing symptomatic HAV infections. The Korea Center for Disease Control Sentinel Surveillance System has recently revealed an increase in the incidence of hepatitis A infection since 2001 and has revealed a potential endemic nature of the hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis A vaccines that were introduced in 1997 in Korea have made the current anti-HAV IgG positive rates in children (less than 10 years of age) approximately 50% of the rates observed in Seoul in 2006. However, in the same year, a few children were diagnosed as having anti-HAV IgG antibodies in Busan. This suggests the presence of some difference in the vaccination policy among doctors practicing in Seoul and Busan. Thus, the current recommendation of vaccinating 12-year-old child with HAV vaccination should be emphasized and a new strategy should be developed for the vaccination program to cater to the adolescents and young adults who are not immune, as well as for persons who are at a high risk for hepatitis A viral infection such as military personnel and hospital and day care center employees. Further, urgent hepatitis A vaccinations are also needed in patients with chronic liver diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.7
• /
• pp.696-703
• /
• 2008

Korea is now classified as an area of intermediate endemicity for hepatitis B virus (HBV), due to the implementation of universal HBV vaccination and national preventive programs for HBV infection. A national program of HBV vaccination was launched in Korea in 1988 for school-going children and was listed on a vaccination guideline in 1991. In 1995, universal vaccination for newborn infants was started for the prevention of perinatal HBV transmission. The prevalence of HBsAg among Korean middle school students has shown marked decreased from 3.2% in the late 1990s to 0.44% in 2007. HBsAg positivity in preschool children was 0.9% in 1995, decreased to 0.2% in 2007 by national prevention program of hepatitis B vertical transmission, launched in 2002. Vaccine failure rate of HBV immunoprophylaxis is 4.2% by this program. The infected children should be monitored per 6-12 months interval. Lamivudine and interferon are approved therapies for children with chronic hepatitis B in immune-clearance phase in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2000

Duck viral hepatitis is an acute, highly infectious viral disease of young dacklings aged from two days to three weeks. The significant lesion associated with the disease was enlarged liver including necrotic foci and numerous hemorrhagic spots. We have isolated five strains of duck hepatitis virus (DHV) from field cases showing about 20% mortality with a sign of opisthotonos. When a-day-old ducklings were intramuscularly inoculated with one of the isolates, 92% of the birds were died within 5 days. We attempted to develop an attenuated strain of duck hepatitis virus (DHV) using one of the isolates by serial chicken embryo passages. The propagation of DHV in chicken embryos was carried 140 passages. The virus titer increased gradually from the $21^{st}$ through the $50^{th}$ passage, but there was no significant increase of virus titer in subsequent passages after then. Through the serial passages, the virulence of the virus for chicken embryos was gradually increased but decreased for ducklings. The pathogenicity of the virus for ducklings was preserved up to the $21^{st}$ passage but disappeared at the $50^{th}$passage. An attenuated Korean isolate which was passaged 140 times in chicken embryos gave good protection in ducklings against both challenge infection to a Korean virulent strain and to a DHV-DRL strain, a type 1 reference strain of DHV, which indicated that the Korean isolates could be classified as DHV type 1. And the above results suggest that an attenuated Korean isolate can be used for developing a live DHV vaccine.