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| SPECIALIST ANSWERS
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Question |
is the hepatitis A live attenuated vaccine safer & better than the killed one as only one dose is needed& that too at the same cost?
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Answer |
In general the administration of single dose of live attenuated vaccine is effective and gives long term immunity.Regarding the recently available live attenuated Hepatitis vaccine developed at China,there is still insufficient data regarding the safety profile .In this regard in the launch meeting held at New Delhi,this question was asked to the Chinese expert but he either possibly could not understand the question properly or did not respond to the question correctly.We should have more information regarding the safety especially its chances of reverting to virulence strain.The efficacy studies shown by the Chinese expert showed good sero-conversion and the same also has been shown by small bridging study done at Pune.If the safety profile is known,this vaccine would be an alternative to two doses of killed vaccine.There should be very good post marketing surveillance regarding adverse events and if found to be safe will be considered to be excellent choice.
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