Hepatitis B Vaccine

What you need to know:

1. What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (H.B.V.).

It can cause acute (short-term) illness which can lead to loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting, tiredness, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), pain in muscles, joints, and stomach.

Some people go on to develop chronic (long-term) H.B.V. infection. This can be very serious, and often leads to:
• liver damage (cirrhosis)
• liver cancer
• death

It occurs around the world with highly variable prevalences.

• Each year about 3,000 to 5,000 people die from cirrhosis or liver cancer caused by H.B.V. (U.S. data).

Hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. A person can become infected by:

- contact with a mother’s blood and body fluids at the time of birth;
- contact with blood and body fluids through breaks in the skin such as bites, cuts, or sores;
- contact with objects that could have blood or body fluids on them such as toothbrushes or razors;
- having unprotected sex with an infected person;
- sharing needles when injecting drugs;
- being pricked with a used needle on the job.

2. Hepatitis B vaccine: Why get vaccinated?
Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, and the serious consequences of H.B.V. infection, including liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given as a series of 3 shots. This vaccine series gives long-term protection from H.B.V. infection, possibly lifelong.

3. Who should get hepatitis B vaccine and when?
It is routinely given to all children and adolescents.

Adults

• All unvaccinated adults at risk for H.B.V. infection should be vaccinated. This includes:
- sex partners of people infected with H.B.V.,
- men who have sex with men,
- people who inject street drugs,
- people with more than one sex partner,
- people with chronic liver or kidney disease,
- people with jobs that expose them to human blood,
- household contacts of people infected with H.B.V.,
- residents and staff in institutions for the developmentally disabled,
- kidney dialysis patients,
- people who travel to countries where hepatitis B is common,
- people with H.I.V. infection.

• Anyone else who wants to be protected from H.B.V. infection may be vaccinated.

4. Who should not get hepatitis B vaccine?
• Anyone with a life-threatening allergy to baker’s yeast, or to any other component of the vaccine, should not get hepatitis B vaccine. Tell your provider if you have any severe allergies.

• Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of hepatitis B vaccine should not get another dose.

• Anyone who is moderately or severely ill when a dose of vaccine is scheduled should probably wait until they recover before getting the vaccine.

Pregnant women who need protection from H.B.V. infection may be vaccinated.

5. Hepatitis B vaccine risks
Hepatitis B is a very safe vaccine. Most people do not have any problems with it.

The following mild problems have been reported:

• Soreness where the shot was given (up to about 1 person in 4).
•Low grade fever(up to about 1 person in 15).

Severe problems are extremely rare. Severe allergic reactions are believed to occur about once in 1.1 million doses.

6. What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?
What should I look for?
•Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.

What should I do?
•Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.

•Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.

7. How can I learn more?
•Ask your immunization provider. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.

References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov (accessed February 2008) and Committee on Immunization, Philippine Society for Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (PSMID) & the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV). Handbook on Adult Immunization for Filipinos 2004.

© 2008 L.Y.F. Vaccination & Medical Services, Inc.
L.Y.F. Branches: *6750 Medical Clinic 2nd Floor, Fenina Bldg., 6750 Aguilar Ave (CAA Rd), Las Pinas City,
*16E Eisenhower Tower Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan,
*Unit 2704 Paragon Plaza Condominium EDSA corner Reliance Ave.
Phone: (632) 381.2939 or (632) 401.3280