Sir.—In cases of children sexually abused by HBV carriers, the Centers for Disease Control recommends a single dose, not exceeding 5.0 mL, of 0.06 mL/kg of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) as soon as possible but within 14 days of exposure.1 I suggest that, to protect children in a more optimal fashion, children sexually abused by HBV carriers also receive three doses of HBV vaccine (Hepatavax-B) in appropriate quantities (1.0 mL/dose for children ≥10 years of age; 0.5 mL/dose for those <10 years of age1) as soon as possible after the exposure with two HBV vaccine boosters one and six months after the initial dose, respectively.
In many instances, predicting if children will be further sexually abused by the same or another HBV carrier is difficult. Too often our legal system and social service agencies fail to provide for these children the degree of protection necessary to