Comparison of immunogenicity between inactivated and live attenuated hepatitis A vaccines: A single-blind, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial among children in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China

Objectives: To compare immunogenicity among an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine (Healive ® ) with one-dose and two-dose regimens, and three kinds of live attenuated vaccines in children. Results: No significant differences were observed in seroconversion rates (seroprotection rates) among the five groups at 6 or 12 mo (p > 0.05). The geometric mean concentration (GMC) of anti-HAV IgG was significantly higher in the two-dose Healive ® group than in the one-dose Healive ® group and the attenuated vaccine groups at 12 mo (932.4 vs. 112.7, 135.8, 203.3, 212.8 mIU/ml, respectively, p < 0.05). In the one-dose Healive ® group, the GMC was significantly lower than that in the attenuated vaccine B and C groups at 6 mo (152.6 vs. 212, 204 mIU/ml, p < 0.05) and at 12 mo (112.7 vs. 203.3, 212.8, p < 0.05), but was similar to the attenuated vaccine A group at 12 mo (112.7 vs. 135.8 mIU/ml, p > 0.05). The GMCs were significantly higher in the 1-2 y of age group than in the 3-6 y of age group for all types of vaccines except the attenuated vaccine C (p < 0.05) at 12 mo. Methods: A single-blind, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted among healthy children aged 1.5-6 y in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China. Subjects were randomly assigned to 5 groups. Two groups were administered one-dose or two-dose inactivated vaccine and the remaining groups were immunized with one of three kinds of attenuated vaccines, respectively. Serum samples were collected at 6- and 12-mo follow-ups. Anti-HAV IgG was measured with a microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Conclusions: A higher GMC of anti-HAV IgG was induced in the two-dose Healive ® than in the one-dose and the attenuated vaccines at 12 mo. The attenuated vaccine B or C produced higher GMCs than the one-dose Healive ® at 6-12 mo after vaccination.