Immunology and Allergology >>>> Vaccination against hepatitis B

Vaccination against hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B infection can be prevented by using the hepatitis B vaccine. Vaccination is available to people of all ages, from young children. There are two types of hepatitis B vaccines: recombinant vaccines and vaccines made from blood plasma. In addition, vaccines can be monovalent (one antigen) and combined (several antigens of diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis A, poliomyelitis).

Depending on the epidemiological indication (for example, widespread infection with hepatitis B virus in the perinatal period (in newborns), the first stage of vaccination may take place 24 hours after the birth of the child. At birth, only monovalent vaccine is used.

Depending on the chosen vaccine and the age of the person, several vaccination schemes are offered during primary immunization, each of which has flexible vaccination periods.

To prevent perinatal infections, there is a three-time vaccination scheme for children:

The first stage is at birth (monovalent vaccine),
The second and third stages are administered simultaneously with the DTP vaccine.

Vaccination against hepatitis B in the adult population involves a one-step vaccine administration, given that antibodies after vaccination can persist for more than twenty years. A three-stage vaccination (vaccination plus two revaccinations every seven years) is reserved for people from risk groups (health workers; people suffering from immunodeficiency; people on hemodialysis).

Hepatitis B vaccines do not have any side effects, with the exception of slight thickening and redness of the injection site, rare cases of fever and poor general health. Isolated cases of allergic reactions, myalgia, glomerulonephritis are described.

The reactivity of hepatitis B vaccines is determined by their combination with other vaccines, but the response to vaccination does not go beyond the described reactions of vaccines used simultaneously for the prevention of other infectious diseases.

Contraindication to vaccination against hepatitis B is considered to be an increased sensitivity to the components of the vaccine (in particular, to yeast), an acute period of illness, decompensated forms of cardiovascular diseases.