There is a vaccine available to prevent hepatitis B infection.
If you are working in an area or if you're travelling and could be at risk of becoming infected with hepatitis B, a course of vaccinations should be considered to help protect against Hepatitis B.
The Immunisation against Infectious Disease: The Green Book -DOH 2013, states that HBV immunisation is recommended for the following individuals and groups:-
- Travellers to a high risk area (sub-Saharan Africa, East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands)
- People adopting or fostering children from high risk areas
- People who inject drugs, or have a sexual partner who does (including those who inject intermittently)
- Those who are likely to “progress” to injecting, for example those who are currently smoking heroin and/or crack cocaine, and heavily dependent amphetamine users
- Non-injecting drug users who are living with current injectors
- Sexual partners of injecting users
- Children of injectors
- Someone who frequently changes sexual partners
- Men who have sex with men (MSM)
- Sex workers
- People working in areas with a risk of coming into contact with blood or body fluids (nurses, prison staff, doctors, dentists, laboratory staff)
- People receiving regular blood or blood products, and their carers
- Close family contacts of a case or individuals with chronic HBV infection
- Families adopting children from countries with high or intermediate HBV prevalence
- Foster carers
- Patients with chronic renal failure or chronic liver disease
- Individuals in residential accommodation for those with learning difficulties
- Travellers to areas of high or intermediate prevalence
Hepatitis B Vaccinations
Although there is no routine hepatitis B vaccination programme in the UK, there a number of services in Northern Ireland that provide hepatitis B vaccination incluiding GP, Travel Clinics' Occupational Health departments, Addiction services, Homeless Health Services, Prison service and genito-urinary medicine clinics (GUMs).
Vaccination
How long does hepatitis B vaccination last? A course of vaccinations should provide lifelong protection.
About the vaccine: When to get vaccinated: In order to complete the full course in time, you need to get the first dose at least one month before travel.
Course: The course consists of three doses. The second injection is given four weeks after the first, and the third injection should be given five months later (completing the course in six months).
Accelerated course: If travelling at short notice, you may be able to get an accelerated course. You will receive the second injection after seven days, followed by the third injection at least 14 days after the second.
Boosters: Once you have completed the course, you usually won’t need another booster for five years. Boosters are sometimes recommended after exposure to the disease.
How it is given: Injection in the upper arm.
Side effects: Possible side effects include soreness at the injection site and tiredness.
Children: The hepatitis B vaccine can be given from birth.
Additional precautions: If travelling to a country where medical resources are limited, carry sterile needles with you. Use a condom every time you have sex to avoid becoming infected with hepatitis B or HIV.