Twinrix

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Twinrix is the world's only combination hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine, combining the antigenic components contained in Havrix® (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated) and Engerix-B® [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant)]. Twinrix is immunogenic against both hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), and provides comparable immunity to the monovalent vaccines when administered in a standard 3-dose schedule. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) recommend immunization for men who have sex with men (MSM) and for travelers going to areas of high/intermediate endemicity for both HAV and HBV, two serious but vaccine-preventable diseases. Twinrix is indicated for active immunization of persons 18 years of age and older; it should be administered by intramuscular injection. Primary immunization for adults consists of three doses, given on a 0-, 1- and 6-month schedule.

Twinrix is generally well tolerated. Its safety profile was established in clinical trials involving the administration of 6,594 doses to 2,164 individuals and during routine clinical use of the vaccine.

The most common adverse events in clinical trials included soreness at the injection site, headache, and fatigue. They were mild and self-limiting, and did not last more than 48 hours. Adverse events seen with Twinrix were similar to those observed after vaccination with monovalent vaccines.

Twinrix is contraindicated in people with known hypersensitivity to yeast or any component of the vaccine or to subjects having shown signs of hypersensitivity after previous administration of Twinrix or monovalent hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccines.