Hepatitis b vaccine-injection

Hepatitis B vaccine is used to prevent hepatitis B, a serious infection that affects the liver.

Most children are given their first shot at birth, followed by a 2nd shot at 1-2 months of age, and a 3rd shot at 6-18 months of age. Also, anyone who is 18 years of age or younger and hasn't received the vaccine should be vaccinated.

Additionally, all unvaccinated adults at risk for hepatitis B infection should be vaccinated. This includes:

• Partners or people infected with hepatitis B
• Men who have sex with men
• People who inject street drugs
• People with more than one sex partner
• People with chronic liver or kidney disease
• People under the age of 60 who have type 1 or 2 diabetes
• People with jobs that expose them to human blood or other body fluids
• People who live with a family member infected with hepatitis B
• Kidney dialysis patients
• People who travel to countries where hepatitis B is common
• People with HIV infection
• People who live or work in institution for the developmentally disabled
• Anyone else who wishes to be protected from the hepatitis B infection

Common side effects of HBV vaccines include:

• Irritability
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue/weakness
• Reduced appetite
• Cold symptoms

Other reported side effects include:

• Headache
• Injections site reactions
• Low blood pressure
• Flushing
• Back pain
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Rash
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Seizures
• Hair loss
• Constipation
• Taste changes

• There are no adequate or well-controlled trials of hepatitis B vaccine use in pregnant women. Therefore, hepatitis B vaccine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
• It is not known if the hepatitis B vaccine is excreted into human milk after administration to the mother. The manufacturer recommends caution when given to nursing mothers.

• Suspension for injection in single does vials and syringes: Recombivax 0.5 ml (5 mcg), 1 ml (10 mcg); Engerix-B 0.5 ml (10 mcg), 1 ml (20 mcg).

Hepatitis B vaccine should be stored in the refrigerator, between 2 C to 8 C (36 F to 46 F).