Vaccination against hepatitis B: comparison of intradermal and intramuscular administration of plasma derived and recombinant vaccines.

A retrospective analysis of levels of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen in 1419 health care workers was carried out to compare the efficacy of intramuscular and intradermal administration of plasma derived and recombinant hepatitis B vaccines. No significant difference was detected between the response to intradermal and intramuscular plasma derived vaccine. However of those who received intramuscular recombinant vaccine 81.6%, 13.8% and 4.7% were good (> or = 100 miu/ml), low (10-99 miu/ml) and non-responders (< 10 miu/ml) respectively, compared with 51.1%, 29.8% and 19.2% of the intradermal group (P < 0.0001). Low dose intradermal administration of recombinant vaccine did not produce satisfactory levels of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.