Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and combination hepatitis vaccines for immunoprophylaxis: an update.

Since the publication of the last extensive review of hepatitis vaccines, use of inactivated hepatitis A vaccines has been extended to high-risk regions of the United States and specific patient groups, such as those with chronic liver disease, and use of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccines has been recommended for older adolescents. A combination hepatitis A and B vaccine, recently approved for licensure by the US Food and Drug Administration, should increase convenience and compliance, reduce the costs of vaccination, and provide prolonged and dual protection for those at risk for hepatitis. Although commercially available vaccines for hepatitis C, D, and E remain a distant goal, advances in vaccine and adjuvant technology, including immunization with DNA-based vaccines, hold promise for the future.