Is your little one's vaccination card due? Or has your doctor told you to get the Hepatitis B vaccine? Maybe you're traveling abroad for work. Whatever the reason, you probably have a lot of questions about the Hepatitis B vaccine. It's normal to think things like, "What is it for?", "Is it safe?", "Will there be any side effects?" So today, let's talk about the Hepatitis B vaccine in a simple way that you can understand.
What is this hepatitis B vaccine?
Simply put, the Hepatitis B vaccine is a vaccine that provides protection to our bodies. It protects us from infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Think of this virus as an enemy that sneaks in and damages one of the most important organs in our body, the liver. Over time, this enemy can cause the liver to gradually fail, leading to conditions like cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.
So what this vaccine does is train our immune system to recognize the real virus before it enters our bodies. Then, if the real virus ever enters our bodies, our immune system will quickly recognize it, fight it, and destroy it.
This vaccine may come under different brand names. For example, you may see names like `(Engerix-B, HEPLISAV-B, Recombivax HB)`. These all do the same thing.
The most important things to tell your doctor before getting vaccinated
This is very important. Before you get vaccinated, it is important to tell your doctor the following information, as these can greatly affect your safety.
- If you currently have a fever or any infection .
- If you have heart disease .
- If you know you have already been infected with hepatitis B.
- If you have a weakened immune system (e.g. HIV infection, cancer treatment).
- If you have kidney disease .
- If you have previously had an allergic reaction to another type of vaccine, yeast, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
- If you are pregnant or expecting a baby.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother.
It is very important for your safety to talk to the doctor without hiding these things.
How is this vaccine given?
This vaccine is given by injection into a muscle.It is usually given in the upper arm. For young children, it is given in the thigh muscle. This is given in a hospital or clinic by a health professional, such as a doctor or nurse practitioner. You will not be allowed to take it home.
To be fully protected against hepatitis B, it is essential to receive all the recommended doses of the vaccine at the correct intervals . Usually, 2 or 3 doses are given.
This vaccine is given to newborns under the National Immunization Program in Sri Lanka. You can find out more about it from your family health worker (midwife) or pediatrician.
What to do if you miss a vaccination?
If this happens, don't panic. Call your doctor as soon as possible and schedule your next appointment. The most important thing is to complete the prescribed doses.
Other drugs that may affect the effectiveness of the vaccine
You should also tell your doctor if you are taking any medications for other conditions. In particular, the following medications may affect the effectiveness of this vaccine:
- Immunosuppressive drugs: For example, drugs like `(adalimumab, infliximab)`.
- Treatment for cancer (Chemotherapy).
- Steroid-type medications: such as `(prednisone, cortisone)`.
This list is not complete, so be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking.
Possible side effects after receiving the vaccine
As with any vaccine, some minor side effects may occur after receiving this vaccine. Most of these are not serious. However, in rare cases, serious side effects can occur, so it is important to be aware of them.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| If these symptoms occur, inform your doctor immediately or go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU). | |
| Serious Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Difficulty breathing | Shortness of breath, making a noise when breathing. |
| Other serious symptoms | Restlessness, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, extreme fatigue with fever, numbness or pain in the limbs, seizures, feeling extremely weak. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist or are bothersome | |
| Discomfort at the injection site | Pain, redness, swelling, or slight itching at the site. |
| Other minor features | Headache, slight fever, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, general fatigue. |
What if I accidentally overdose?
This vaccine is administered by a healthcare professional, so the chance of this happening is very low. However, if you suspect that something has happened, inform your doctor immediately or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Take-Home Message
- The Hepatitis B vaccine is a very important vaccine that protects you and your children from a dangerous virus that damages the liver.
- Before getting the vaccine, be sure to tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications you are taking.
- It is very important to receive all the required doses of vaccines on time for complete protection.
- Be aware of the symptoms of serious side effects (such as difficulty breathing, swelling) and seek medical advice immediately if you notice any of these.
- This article is for general information only. Please discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your doctor.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What is the Hepatitis B Vaccine (Hepatitis B Vaccine / Engerix-B, Recombivax HB)?
This is the most successful and life-saving 'Vaccine' in the world! This is done to permanently 100% prevent the extremely dangerous 'Hepatitis B (HBV) virus', which is the main cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis, from entering our bodies (through blood or sexual contact). This is given to babies at birth, and is mandatory for health workers.
💬 How can we build our body's defenses with this vaccine without injecting a virus into the body (Recombinant DNA technology)?
That's the surprise in this! It doesn't contain any virus or dead virus. Doctors (using yeast cells) have created only the outer shell/coat (HBsAg / Surface Antigen) of the HBV virus and added it to it. When this vaccine is given, our immune system thinks that the real virus has arrived. Then it creates antibodies to attack that single shell and deploys 'defense soldiers' throughout the body. If the real virus comes one day, it will kill it right there.
💬 Why is this vaccine (Hepatitis B Vaccine) given in 3 doses? Are there any side effects?
3 doses (0, 1, 6 months) are given (Booster effect), because a small amount of antibodies are produced in the body after one dose. But the 3rd dose (at 6 months) strengthens the protection in our body for life (Life-long immunity) up to 100%. Since this is made from yeast, it is forbidden to get this if someone has a severe allergy (Anaphylaxis) to 'yeast/bread/bakery food'! Apart from that, there are no other major side effects (only fever/cough).
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