Vaccination against hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver disease of an infectious nature that is caused by the corresponding virus. Worldwide, about 2 billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus. Of these, almost 700 million are children and adolescents. Almost 250 000 people die of chronic or acute hepatitis annually. In order to somehow prevent the spread of this dangerous disease, a vaccination against hepatitis B was included in the national vaccination schedule.

When should I get vaccinated ?

The very first inoculation from hepatitis B in newborns is done in the first 12 hours after birth. After 30 days, the second dose is introduced, the last after 6 months. If it is not possible to carry out the vaccination after birth, it is allowed to do it later in the same intervals - 0-1-6 months. If the baby was born from a mother who is infected with hepatitis B, then he is at risk, vaccinations should be done according to another scheme - 0-1-2-12 months.

In cases where the child was not vaccinated according to the calendar, the vaccination is carried out after reaching the age of 13 years. All workers and students of medical institutions, people with other hepatitis viruses, are vaccinated against hepatitis B in strict order. Also, drug addicts are subject to mandatory vaccination.

Vaccination against hepatitis B: contraindications

In the presence of any viral illness (angina, flu or simple cold) absolutely any vaccination is prohibited. And vaccination against hepatitis B is no exception. This is due to the fact that during any disease the body is weakened, vaccination at this time can have a very negative impact on health. You can only inoculate after 2-4 weeks (depending on the severity of the disease) after full recovery.

Vaccination is not carried out if there is an individual intolerance to any substance in the drug or allergies to food yeast. Also vaccination against hepatitis B is not performed for children who were born with a body weight of less than 2 kilograms.

Side effects

As a rule, this vaccine should not cause serious consequences. After it, there may be a slight increase in temperature, a feeling of fatigue, the appearance of pain at the site of the injection and in the joints. Sometimes dizziness and nausea may occur. All these reactions are considered the norm for both the adult and the child, and no treatment is required. Of course, if there is an allergy to vaccination components, anaphylactic shock may develop . Therefore, after the vaccination was carried out, do not immediately leave the clinic, because the patient can always get timely qualified help.

How does the vaccine work?

The vaccine against hepatitis B does not contain live virus and does not cause disease. It contains only antigen, created with the help of DNA technology.

After it enters the body, a mechanism is triggered, which is responsible for producing protective antibodies to the hepatitis B virus.

Also in the vaccine there is aluminum hydroxide, which forms a hotbed of inflammation at the injection site.

It is here that a lot of immune cells of the body tend to get into, as a result of which immunity to hepatitis B is created.