8 February 2008

Launch of Ambirix® combined hepatitis A and B vaccine

Ambirix®, a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine for children aged one year up to and including 15 years, has been launched in the United Kingdom by GlaxoSmithKline.

Ambirix® is administered in a two dose schedule at day 0 and again at 6 – 12 months. The vaccine composition is identical to the current product Twinrix Adult ® (containing 720 EU of inactivated hepatitis A virus and 20 mcg of hepatitis B surface antigen). The vaccine is indicated only when the risk of hepatitis B exposure is low during the vaccination course, and when completion of the course can be assured.

The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for Ambirix® is available on the Electronic Medicines Compendium website.

Specific recommendations for hepatitis A and B vaccination during travel can be found on the NaTHNaC Country Information Page.