Immunogenicity and Efficacy of an Accelerated Vaccination Schedule Against Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Rabbits

Abstract

An important goal of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) vaccine is to prevent HEV in fragile, conflict-affected, and vulnerable (FCV) settings with documented HEV circulation, but the routine hepatitis E vaccination schedule (0, 1, and 6 months) might not provide adequate protection for them in time. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of a HEV vaccine (HEV 239 vaccine, Hecolin) using an accelerated vaccination schedule (vaccine doses at 0 and 7 days). Two doses of accelerated vaccination schedule (0 and 7 days) induced high titers of anti-HEV protective antibodies in a short period of time in rabbits of the vaccine group, which could protect the rabbits from HEV infection compared with the infection group. Our results suggest that an accelerated vaccination schedule (0 and 7 days) could provide protective antibodies in a shorter time. The accelerated schedule should be further recommended for use as a backup in FCV settings or during a hepatitis E outbreak.