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Can Hepatitis B be
prevented?
Yes. The best way to
prevent Hepatitis B is by getting the Hepatitis B vaccine. The Hepatitis B
vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month
period.
What is the Hepatitis B
vaccine series?
The Hepatitis B vaccine
series is a sequence of shots that stimulate a person’s natural immune system
to protect against HBV. After the vaccine is given, the body makes antibodies
that protect a person against the virus. An antibody is a substance found in
the blood that is produced in response to a virus invading the body. These
antibodies are then stored in the body and will fight off the infection if a
person is exposed to the Hepatitis B virus in the future.
Who should get vaccinated
against Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B vaccination is
recommended for:
• All infants, starting
with the first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine at birth
• All children and
adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated
• People whose sex
partners have Hepatitis B
• Sexually active persons
who are not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship.
• Persons seeking
evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease
• Men who have sexual
contact with other men
• People who share
needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
• People who have close
household contact with someone infected with the Hepatitis B virus
• Health care and public
safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids
on the job
• People with end-stage
renal disease, including predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and
home dialysis patients
• Residents and staff of
facilities for developmentally disabled persons
• Travelers to regions
with moderate or high rates of Hepatitis B
• People with chronic
liver disease
• People with HIV
infection
• Anyone who wishes to be
protected from Hepatitis B virus infection
In In order to reach
individuals at risk for Hepatitis B, vaccination is also recommended for anyone
in or seeking treatment from the following:
• Sexually transmitted
disease treatment facilities
• HIV testing and
treatment facilities
• Facilities providing
drug-abuse treatment and prevention services
• Health care settings
targeting services to injection drug users
• Health care settings
targeting services to men who have sex with men
• Chronic hemodialysis
facilities and end-stage renal disease programs
• Correctional facilities
• Institutions and
nonresidential day care facilities for developmentally disabled persons
When should a person get
the Hepatitis B vaccine series?
Children and Adolescents
• All children should get
their first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine at birth and complete the vaccine
series by 6–18 months of age.
• All children and
adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine
should also be vaccinated. "Catch-up" vaccination is recommended for
children and adolescents who were never vaccinated or who did not get the
entire vaccine series.
Adults:
• Any adult who is at risk
for Hepatitis B virus infection or who wants to be vaccinated should talk to a
health professional about getting the vaccine series
Is the Hepatitis B vaccine
recommended before international travel?
The risk for Hepatitis B
virus infection in international travelers is generally low, although people
traveling to certain countries are at risk. Travelers to regions with moderate
or high rates of Hepatitis B should get the Hepatitis B vaccine.
How is the Hepatitis B
vaccine series given?
The Hepatitis B vaccine is
usually given as a series of 3 or 4 shots over a 6-month period.
Is the Hepatitis B vaccine
series effective?
Yes, the Hepatitis B
vaccine is very effective at preventing Hepatitis B virus infection. After
receiving all three doses, Hepatitis B vaccine provides greater than 90%
protection to infants, children, and adults immunized before being exposed to
the virus.
Is the Hepatitis B vaccine
safe?
Yes, the Hepatitis B
vaccine is safe. Soreness at the injection site is the most common side effect
reported. As with any medicine, there are very small risks that a serious
problem could occur after getting the vaccine. However, the potential risks
associated with Hepatitis B are much greater than the risks the vaccine poses.
Since the vaccine became available in 1982, more than 100 million people have
received Hepatitis B vaccine in the United States and no serious side effects
have been reported.
Is it harmful to have an
extra dose of Hepatitis B vaccine or to repeat the entire Hepatitis B vaccine
series?
No, getting extra doses of
Hepatitis B vaccine is not harmful.
What should be done if
Hepatitis B vaccine series was not completed?
Talk to your health
professional to resume the vaccine series as soon as possible. The series does
not need to be restarted.
Who should not receive the
Hepatitis B vaccine?
The Hepatitis B vaccine is
not recommended for people who have had serious allergic reactions to a prior
dose of Hepatitis B vaccine or to any part of the vaccine. Also, it not
recommended for anyone who is allergic to yeast because yeast is used when
making the vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
Are booster doses of
Hepatitis B vaccine necessary?
It depends. A “booster”
dose of Hepatitis B vaccine is a dose that increases or extends the
effectiveness of the vaccine. Booster doses are recommended only for
hemodialysis patients and can be considered for other people with a weakened
immune system. Booster doses are not recommended for persons with normal immune
status who have been fully vaccinated.
Is there a vaccine that
will protect me from both Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?
Yes, there is a
combination vaccine that protects people from both Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
The combined Hepatitis A and B vaccine is usually given as three separate doses
over a 6-month period.
Can I get the Hepatitis B
vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?
Yes. Getting two different
vaccines at the same time has not been shown to be harmful.
Where can I get the
Hepatitis B vaccine?
Talk to your doctor or
health professional or call your health department. Some clinics offer free or
low-cost vaccines.
What is Hepatitis B immune
globulin (HBIG)?
Hepatitis B immune
globulin is a substance made from human blood samples that contains antibodies
against the Hepatitis B virus. It is given as a shot and can provide short-term
protection (approximately 3 months) against Hepatitis B.
CDC
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