Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. Most people do not experience any symptoms during the acute infection phase. However, some people have acute illness with symptoms that last several weeks, including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The hepatitis B vaccine is the mainstay of hepatitis B prevention. WHO recommends that all infants receive the hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours. The birth dose should be followed by 2 or 3 doses to complete the primary series.The complete vaccine series induces protective antibody levels in more than 95% of infants, children and young adults. Protection lasts at least 20 years and is probably lifelong.

Thus, WHO does not recommend booster vaccination for persons who have completed the 3 dose vaccination schedule.

Minimum age: birth
Birth Dose : Monovalent HepB vaccine only. Monovalent HepB vaccine should be used for doses given before age 6 weeks.

Routine Series:
A complete series is 3 doses at 0, 1–2, and 6–18 months.

Catch-up vaccination:
Unvaccinated persons should complete a 3-dose series at 0, 1–2, and 6 months.

First dose to second dose is 4 weeks apart and the third dose is 8 weeks and at least 16 weeks after first dose.

Complete adult dose is 3 intramuscular injections, the second and third doses administered 1 and 6 months, respectively, after the first dose.

There are some conditions that Hepatitis B vaccine is highly recommended :

Pregnancy, Immunocompromised status (excluding HIV infection),HIV infection, Kidney failure, end-stage renal disease, on hemodialysis, Heart disease,chronic lung disease, CSF leaks/cochlear implants, Asplenia and persistent complement component deficiencies, Chronic liver disease
Diabetes.