Hepatitis B

According to the CDC, why should you get vaccinated?

Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can cause mild illness lasting a few weeks, or it can lead to a serious, lifelong illness.

• Acute hepatitis B infection is a short-term illness that can lead to fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements), and pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach.

• Chronic hepatitis B infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body. Most people who go on to develop chronic hepatitis B do not have symptoms, but it is still very serious and can lead to liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and death. Chronically-infected people can spread hepatitis B virus to others, even if they do not feel or look sick themselves.

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected through:

• Birth (if a mother has hepatitis B, her baby can become infected)

• Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person

• Contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person

• Sex with an infected partner

• Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment

• Exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments

Most people who are vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine are immune for life.[1]

Who should get the vaccine?

Children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should be vaccinated, and many adults.1

How does getting the vaccine work?

2- or 3-dose series HepB (2-dose series Heplisav-B at least 4 weeks apart [2-dose series HepB only applies when 2 doses of Heplisav-B are used at least 4 weeks apart] or 3-dose series Engerix-B or Recombivax HB at 0, 1, 6 months [minimum intervals: 4 weeks between doses 1 and 2, 8 weeks between doses 2 and 3, 16 weeks between doses 1 and 3]) or 3-dose series HepA-HepB (Twinrix at 0, 1, 6 months [minimum intervals: 4 weeks between doses 1 and 2, 5 months between doses 2 and 3])[2]

Hepatitis B vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.1

[1]  Hepatitis B Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) <https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-b.html> [accessed Jan 20 2020]

[2]   Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule <hhttps://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html> [accessed Jan 20 2020]