Abstract We evaluated the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine (Heptavax-B) containing only the ad subtype in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial among 865 staff members of 43 hemodialysis units in the United States. Surface antibody developed in 92.6 per cent of the subjects after two doses of vaccine and in 96 per cent after the six-month booster. The incidence of infections with hepatitis B virus (with or without hepatitis) was 9.9 per cent in placebo recipients and 2.2 per cent in vaccine recipients (P<0.01). The two cases of hepatitis B among vaccine recipients did not occur in subjects in whom antibody had developed. In 81 per cent of the hepatitis events, the virus was of the ay subtype. The incidence of ay virus was 8.2 per cent among placebo recipients and 1.2 per cent among vaccine recipients (P<0.005). We conclude that these data confirm the efficacy of the vaccine and demonstrate subtype cross-protection. (N Engl J Med. 1982; 307:1481–6.)