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Hepatitis
B Vaccine: Fact Sheet
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First
Anti-cancer Vaccine
- Hepatitis B vaccine
prevents hepatitis B disease and its serious consequences like hepatocellular
carcinoma (liver cancer). Therefore, this is the first anti-cancer vaccine.
Safe
and Effective
- Medical, scientific
and public health communities strongly endorse using hepatitis B vaccine
as a safe and effective way to prevent disease and death.
- Scientific data show
that hepatitis B vaccines are very safe for infants, children, and adults.
- There is no confirmed
evidence which indicates that hepatitis B vaccine can cause chronic
illnesses.
- To assure a high standard
of safety with vaccines, several federal agencies continually assess
and research possible or potential
health effects that could be associated with vaccines.
Vaccine
Schedule
Booster
Doses
- Current
data show that vaccine-induced hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs)
levels may decline over time; however, immune memory (anamnestic anti-HBs
response) remains intact indefinitely following immunization. Persons
with declining antibody levels are still protected against clinical
illness and chronic disease.
- For health
care workers with normal immune status who have demonstrated an anti-HBs
response following vaccination, booster doses of vaccine are not recommended
nor is periodic anti-HBs testing.
Post-vaccination
Testing
- After
routine vaccination of infants, children, adolescents, or adults post-vaccination
testing for adequate antibody response is not necessary.
- Post-vaccination
testing IS recommended for persons whose medical management will depend
on knowledge of their immune status.
This includes persons
who:
- are immunocompromised
(e.g., hemodialysis patients)
- received
the vaccine in the buttock
- are
infants born to HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen)-positive mothers
- are
healthcare workers who have contact with blood
- are
sex partners of persons with chronic hepatitis B virus infection
- Post-vaccination
testing should be completed 1-2 months after the third vaccine dose
for results to be meaningful. A protective antibody response is 10 or
more milliinternational units (>=10mIU/mL).
Adverse
Events
- Case
reports of unusual illnesses following vaccines are most often related
to other causes and not related to a vaccine. Whenever large number
of vaccines are given, some adverse events will occur coincidentally
after vaccination and be falsely attributed to the vaccine.
- Anyone
believing they have had a possible reaction or adverse health effect
from a vaccine should report it to their health care provider. The Vaccine
Adverse Events Reporting System (1-800-822-7967) receives reports from
health care providers and others about vaccine side effects.
Combined
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccine
Additional
Information
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