Erensoy, SBilgic, AArda, BOzer, O2019-10-272019-10-2720020300-8126https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-002-2078-1https://hdl.handle.net/11454/37213Background: This is a report on the results of immunization of medical students with Low-dose hepatitis B (HB) vaccine prior to starting clinical practice and evaluation of the efficacy of this vaccination scheme. Materials and Methods: Low-dose (2 mug) recombinant HB vaccine was administered intramuscularly (im) at months 0, 1, 2 and 12 to 105 volunteers who were HB surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HB core antigen (HBc) negative. Additional doses were administered after the third dose to the vaccinees with anti-HBs titers below 10 IU/l. Results: Protective anti-HBs levels (above 10 IU/l) were obtained in 73.3%, 95.6%, 100% and 92.8% of vaccinees with geometric mean titers of 91, 61.6, 3,662 and 367 IU/l at months 3, 12, 13 and 44 months, respectively. Conclusion: Long-term effective protection against HB could be obtained in medical students with this scheme. Low-dose HB im vaccination can be utilized as a cost-saving vaccination strategy.en10.1007/s15010-002-2078-1info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessArticle305303305WOS:00017870250001012382091Q1Q4