Your Child’s Immunizations: Hepatitis B Vaccine (HepB) (for Parents)

en español: Las vacunas de su hijo: Vacuna contra la hepatitis B

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD

What Is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. People who get infected can have no symptoms, or they can have a mild illness that feels like the flu. Some can be sicker with fever, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice that lasts for a few weeks. And others can become lifelong carriers of the virus and get liver problems later, such as cirrhosis (scarred and damaged liver) or liver cancer.

HepB Immunization Schedule

Kids usually get the hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) as a series of 3 shots:

1. shortly after birth
2. at 1–2 months of age
3. at 6–18 months of age

For the first shot:

• If a newborn’s mother carries the hepatitis B virus in her blood, the baby must get the vaccine within 12 hours after birth. The baby also needs another shot — hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) — to provide protection against the virus right away. If the baby had a low birth weight (less than 2000 grams or 4 pounds, 7 ounces), they’ll need to get the 3 routine doses in addition to this first shot starting at 1 month of age, for a total of 4 doses.
• If a newborn’s mother doesn’t have the virus in her blood, the baby can get the HepB vaccine within 24 hours after birth. If the baby had a low birth weight, they’ll wait to get first dose at 1 month of age or when they’re discharged from the hospital (whichever comes first), for a total of 3 doses.

Anyone can get the vaccine series at any time if they missed it as a baby. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting infected. This includes health care and public safety workers, people with chronic liver or kidney disease, people with HIV infection, and people who inject drugs.

Some kids may need to get vaccinated again later in life. These include children:

• whose mothers carry the hepatitis B virus in their blood
• who need hemodialysis
• who have a weak immune system

Sometimes doctors give the HepB vaccine in combination with other vaccines, such as DTaP, IPV, Hib, or HepA vaccines.

Why Is the HepB Vaccine Recommended?

People who don’t know they’re infected can spread the hepatitis B virus. So it can’t be avoided just by being careful. That’s why health experts recommend that all babies get the vaccine right from birth.

The HepB injection usually creates long-term immunity. Most infants who get the HepB series are protected from hepatitis B infection beyond childhood, into their adult years.

Eliminating the risk of infection also decreases risk for cirrhosis of the liver, chronic liver disease, and liver cancer.

Possible Risks of HepB Vaccine

Side effects usually are mild, and can include a mild fever and soreness or redness at the injection site. Allergic reactions to the vaccine are rare.

When to Delay or Avoid HepB Immunization

Doctors delay giving the vaccine to babies who weigh less than 4 pounds, 7 ounces (2,000 grams) at birth whose mothers do not have the virus in their blood. The baby will get the first dose at 1 month of age or when the baby is discharged from the hospital.

The vaccine is not recommended if your child:

• is currently sick, although simple colds or other minor illnesses should not prevent immunization
• had a serious allergic reaction after an earlier dose of the vaccine or is allergic to baker’s yeast

Caring for Your Child After HepB Immunization

Your child may have fever, soreness, and some swelling and redness at the shot site. For pain and fever, check with your doctor to see if you can give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and to find out the right dose.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call the doctor if:

• You’re not sure of the recommended schedule for the HepB vaccine.
• You have concerns about your own hepatitis B carrier state.
• Your child has moderate or serious side effects after getting a HepB injection.

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD

Date reviewed: February 2022

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Hepatitis B Vaccine: What You Need to Know

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Safety & Prevention

Safety & Prevention

Why get vaccinated?

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

Acute hepatitis B 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 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 pregnant person has hepatitis B, their 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.

Hepatitis B vaccine

Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given as 2, 3, or 4 shots.

Infants should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and will usually complete the series at 6–18 months of age. The birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine is an important part of preventing long-term illness in infants and the spread of hepatitis B in the United States.

Anyone 59 years of age or younger who has not yet gotten the vaccine should be vaccinated.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for adults 60 years or older at increased risk of exposure to hepatitis B who were not vaccinated previously. Adults 60 years or older who are not at increased risk and were not vaccinated in the past may also be vaccinated.

H​epatitis B vaccine may be given as a stand-alone vaccine, or as part of a combination vaccine (a type of vaccine that combines more than one vaccine together into one shot).  

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

Talk with your health care provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting the vaccine:

Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of hepatitis B vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies

In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone hepatitis B vaccination until a future visit.

Pregnant or breastfeeding people should be vaccinated if they are at risk for getting hepatitis B. Pregnancy or breastfeeding are not reasons to avoid hepatitis B vaccination.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting hepatitis B vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more information.

Risks of a vaccine reaction

Soreness where the shot is given, fever, headache, and fatigue (feeling tired) can happen after hepatitis B vaccination.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury or death.

What if there is a serious problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness), call
9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your health care provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself. Visit the
VAERS website or call
1-800-822-7967.
VAERS is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff do not give medical advice.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal program that was created to compensate people who may have been injured by certain vaccines. Claims regarding alleged injury or death due to vaccination have a time limit for filing, which may be as short as two years. Visit the
VICP website at or call
1-800-338-2382 to learn about the program and about filing a claim.

How can I learn more?

• Ask your health care provider.
• Call your
  local or state health department.
• Visit the website of the
  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for vaccine package inserts and additional information.
• Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
• Call
  1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or
• Visit
  CDC’s vaccines website

Last Updated

5/16/2023

Source

U. S. Department of Health ＆ Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Vaccine Information Statement

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Hepatitis B vaccination in Moscow

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Hepatitis B

Anthroponotic ( disease, the causative agent of which can parasitize in natural conditions only in the human body ) viral disease caused by the causative agent of hepatitis B.

Character is studied by the slow development of the disease, long course, the possibility of developing chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer.

Who is sick?

Hepatitis B affects people of all ages.

How can you get infected?

When the virus enters the blood, when the skin and mucous membranes are damaged. The source of infection is an infected person with both acute and chronic forms. The virus is found in blood, semen, saliva, and vaginal secretions. A characteristic property of the virus is its high activity and resistance in the environment. For

infection, the smallest amount of blood infected with the virus enters the body (only 0.0001 ml!).

Transmission occurs from an infected mother to a child during its passage through the birth canal, through sexual contact with an infected person, through intravenous drug administration, in families of patients with chronic hepatitis B when sharing razors, toothbrushes, etc., in isolated cases

violations of the sanitary and anti-epidemic regime during various medical and diagnostic procedures.

What are the main clinical signs?

Most people do not experience any symptoms during the acute stage of infection.

Some people may have general symptoms: fatigue and fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice, nausea, discomfort in the right hypochondrium, changes in the color of urine (darkens) and feces (lightens), pain in the joints.

For incipient hepatitis B, it is typical when a person with a fever and intoxication (malaise, deterioration of health) develops dark urine and develops jaundice.

In hepatitis B, in addition to biochemical signs of damage to liver cells, corresponding markers are found in the blood.

The presence of HBsAg, anti-HBc IgM, anti-HBc total, HBeAg, anti-Hbe (markers of hepatitis B), HBV-DNA in serum confirms the presence of hepatitis B. or past, acute or chronic phase of hepatitis B, virus activity. According to the results of the analyzes, it is possible to determine the indications for treatment and evaluate its effectiveness.

Why is the disease dangerous?

Hepatitis B is a serious global health problem.

It can cause chronic infection and put people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.

How to treat the disease?

If you suspect an illness or suspected contact with an infection, contact your doctor immediately

.

How to prevent disease?

The World Health Organization recommends that all infants receive hepatitis B vaccine.

When is vaccination given?

Viral hepatitis B vaccination is given to all newborns in the first 24 hours of a child’s life.

Carrying out a full course of vaccination (at least 3 vaccinations, without violating the vaccination schedule) leads to the formation of specific antibodies to the hepatitis B virus in a protective titer.

Vaccination is carried out as part of the National Immunization Schedule.

The vaccination course consists of 3 vaccinations and is carried out according to the scheme: 0-1-6 months.

What vaccines are used?

▪ Regevac B

▪ Hepatitis B vaccine, recombinant yeast

▪ Hepatitis B vaccine, recombinant (rDNA)

▪ Shanvac B

9000 2 ▪ Engerix B

▪ Eberbiovac HB

What are the possible complications of the vaccine?

Side effects from hepatitis B vaccination are rare.