Hepatitis B vaccine

The vaccine protect your child from hepatitis B infection.

About the vaccine

  • The hepatitis B vaccine is marketed as a single (monovalent) vaccine or in combination with other vaccines. Regardless of the form, the vaccine contains highly purified non-infectious particles of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HbsAg). This antigen is produced by a modern genetic engineering method on yeast cells.  
  • Hepatitis B vaccine contains highly purified non-infectious particles of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HbsAg), and also contains very small amounts of aluminium salts that serve as an adsorbent and adjuvants (an enhancer of the immune response)
  • The vaccine is given by injection into the thigh muscle to infants or the deltoid muscle (upper arm) to older children (older than 3 years). Routine immunization is performed with three doses of vaccine:
  • 1st dose - first day after birth (or chosen day)
  • 2nd dose - 1 month after the first dose
  • 3rd dose - 6 months after the first dose
  • It is important to test pregnant women for hepatitis B. In case they carry the hepatitis B virus, the child receives specific antibodies (hepatitis B immunoglobulin) on the first day after birth, in addition to the vaccine.
  • If all the above measures are applied, the mother who carries the hepatitis B virus can breastfeed her child, except in situations when the nipples are cracked and bleeding, when there is a short break until recovery.
  • The hepatitis B vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines, against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, MMR vaccine. When administered as a single vaccine, it is given into another part on the body (upper leg to infants or upper arm to older children).
  • Your child must not get the vaccine if:
    • Reacted to a previous dose of the vaccine with a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or is allergic to some of the components of the vaccine.
  • If your child has an acute illness with a fever, vaccination should be postponed until recovery.
  •  Vaccine is given with precautions to children with birth weight below 2000 grams
  • Hepatitis B vaccine  is considered to be one of the safest and most effective vaccines ever made. The most common side effects are usually mild and last 1-2 days. Severe allergic reactions following vaccination are rare.