Hepatitis B vaccine: Using skin when muscle does not work

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has the propensity to persist in a subset of those infected. Such chronic HBV infection can, over years, progress to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, and is a common cause of these serious liver diseases in several countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and Africa.[1] Fortunately, highly effective and safe vaccines are available against HBV. These vaccines contain non-glycosylated form of the viral surface protein, with alum as an adjuvant. Two types of hepatitis B vaccines have been produced—from plasma of HBV-infected individuals (plasma-derived vaccines) and in yeast cells using recombinant DNA technology (recombinant vaccines). Though these vaccines are equally effective and safe, most of the vaccines currently in use are of recombinant origin.[2]