Hepatitis B Vaccine

Vaccine Category Age Group Price
Hepatitis B Engerix B® HBVAXPRO® 10mcg
(Recombinant viral)
Adult £35.00
Children (16+) £22.00
Engerix B Paediatric 0 to 15 years
Engerix B From 16 years and over
HBvaxPRO Paediatric 0 to 15 years
HBvaxPRO From 16 years and over
Booster All of the Above

How is the vaccine administered to Travellers?

The vaccine is administered through 3-4 shots over a six month period.
According to the World Health Organisation Hepatitis B vaccine should be considered for all non-immune individuals travelling to countries or areas with moderate to high risk of infection. It can be administered to infants from birth.

Booster

The full duration of protection has yet to be established. Individuals at continuing risk should be offered a single booster dose at 5 years (once only).

AREAS HIGHLY AFFECTED

Hepatitis B is a disease found around the world but most prevalent in Western Pacific region, African region, Eastern Mediterranean region and South-East Asia region.

SIDE EFFECTS

  • Irritability (especially in children)
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Tiredness
  • Sore throat
  • Runny
  • Stuffy nose
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhoea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness

WHO MUST NOT TAKE THIS VACCINATION

  • If the person getting the vaccine has any severe, life-threatening allergies.

5 FACTS – Did You Know that?

  • It is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease.
  • The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.
  • An estimated 257 million people are living with hepatitis B virus infection (defined as hepatitis B surface antigen positive).
  • Hepatitis B is an important occupational hazard for health workers.
  • However, it can be prevented by currently available safe and effective vaccine.

What is Hepatitis B?

Description

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes serious liver disease, including Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer. Hepatitis B is found worldwide however countries with the highest risk include Eastern Asia and Africa followed by the Middle East, South & East Europe and the Indian Subcontinent.

Transmission

Hepatitis B is transmitted through contaminated blood. The virus could spread by the following: sexual intercourse, needle sharing, blood transfusions, medical interventions, passed on from mother to child, tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture, people with any form of liver disease, and anyone with chronic liver disease.

Symptoms

The incubation period for Hepatitis B can last between up to 60-90 days. Most of infected people do not even develop symptoms, and if symptoms are present, they include a mild fever, flu-like signs, high temperature, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and the yellow decolourisation of the skin and eyes.

Treatment

There is no treatment available for Hepatitis B. Treatment for chronically infected patients is aimed at decreasing the progression to chronic liver disease and reducing the risk of liver cancer.

Prevention

Vaccination is the only way of preventing the disease. The vaccine against hepatitis B is part of the childhood immunisation programme in many countries