At a meeting of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, members unanimously voted to include HEPLISAV-B on the ACIP list of recommended products to vaccinate adults against hepatitis B.
“I think this is a huge advance, and a step forward “ said David S. Stephens, MD, of Emory University, Atlanta, who is a voting member of ACIP.
According to Sarah Schillie, MD, of ACIP’s Hepatitis Work Group, the reduction from three doses to two also will improve vaccine series completion rates, providing more effective protection. This could be very important for health care professionals, with only about 60% of treated individuals fulfilling the three doses necessary for complete HBV protection.