We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the CD4 ϩ recovery of naive vertically human immunodeficiency virus-infected children with severe immunodeficiency who were followed up during at least 4 years of receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Children with baseline CD4 ϩ of Ͻ15% did not reach a mean CD4 ϩ of Ն25% after the 4th year on HAART. We conclude that starting HAART after severe immunosuppression of naive HIV-infected children may not be effective for recovery of normal %CD4 ϩ .

The combined reduced-antigen-content-diphtheria-tetanus-acellular-pertussis and IPV vaccine is immunogenic and well tolerated when administered to adolescents and could be used to improve the control of pertussis disease in this age group.

Objective. To compare two pediatric recombinant hepatitis B vaccines-the Engerix-B reference vaccine and the Euvax-B vaccine-in terms of immunogenicity and reactogenicity, and also to investigate their interchangeability, that is, whether a three-dose hepatitis B vaccination Conclusions. Both of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccines that we studied were well tolerated and highly immunogenic. Euvax-B was clinically identical (not inferior) to the Engerix-B reference vaccine, and either vaccine could be used to achieve the World Health Organization goal of immunizing all infants against hepatitis B. Further, Euvax-B can be safely used in infants given an initial dose of either Euvax-B or Engerix-B.Hepatitis B, vaccines, immunization programs, infant. ABSTRACT One aim of the Expanded Program on Immunization of the World HealthOrganization (WHO) has been the immunization of all infants against hepatitis B (1), and, according to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, all countries should introduce hepatitis B vaccine into their national immunization programs by 2007 (2). Indeed, hepatitis B infection is one of the leading causes of vaccinepreventable infant morbidity around the world (2), and universal childhood immunization has been proposed to combat the spread of this virus (3). To achieve universal immunization of infants the WHO has recommended administering three doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in the first year of life. One dose should be given at birth in areas of medium endemicity (carriage rate of 2% to 8%) or

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