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Accelerated HBV Vaccination — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

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EasyTravel Medicine & VaccinationAccelerated HBV VaccinationSCE Infectious Diseases

A 50-year-old man presents to the travel clinic before a mission trip to rural sub-Saharan Africa. He will be working in a healthcare facility. He has never had hepatitis B vaccination. His occupation requires urgent protection. What accelerated HBV vaccination schedule can be used?

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Correct answer: A — 0, 7, and 21 days (with a booster at 12 months) — the ultra-rapid schedule for immediate protection

For travellers requiring rapid protection, an accelerated HBV vaccination schedule of 0, 7, and 21 days is approved (with a 12-month booster dose to ensure long-term protection). This provides protective antibody levels in approximately 65–85% of recipients by day 28. A super-accelerated schedule of 0, 7, 14 days has also been used. The standard schedule (0, 1, 6 months) provides higher final antibody titres but is impractical for imminent travel. Post-vaccination anti-HBs should be checked 1–2 months after the primary course.

Reference: UKHSA 2024 – Green Book Ch 18: Hepatitis B; NaTHNaC 2024 – Travel vaccination