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Donald P. Francis, MD, DSc

JAMA. 1983;250(14):1891-1892.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

The relatively short history of the inactivated vaccine to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been marked by alternating excitement and concern. Initially, there was excitement when Krugman and colleagues showed that a boiled plasma "vaccine" could induce protective antibody. There was still more excitement when large-scale production of plasmaderived HBV vaccine became feasible and the final product was shown to induce antibody. But later, concern arose regarding the safety of such a vaccine. The question then was, "Can inactivation of HBV and non A—non B agent(s) be guaranteed in the absence of cell-culture detection systems?"¹ As evidence for inactivation accumulated through chimpanzee and early human studies, confidence returned, and enthusiasm grew as additional studies demonstrated both safety and high efficacy.^2,3 The tide has now turned again as we consider the potential risks of transmitting an as yet to be identified agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Centers for Infectious Diseases Centers for Disease Control Public Health Service US Department of Health and Human Services World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis Phoenix

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