factsheet: Hepatitis B

protects against

This vaccine gives protection against hepatitis B. There are several different types of hepatitis and they all cause inflammation of the liver. The hepatitis B virus is passed through infected blood and may also be sexually transmitted. Some people carry the virus in their blood without actually having the disease itself. If a pregnant woman is a hepatitis B carrier, or gets the disease during pregnancy, she can pass it on to her child. The child may not be ill but a high chance of becoming a carrier and developing liver disease later in life.

when it is given

Many pregnant women are screened for hepatitis B during their antenatal care. If found to have the virus, their babies should receive a course of vaccine to prevent them getting hepatitis B and becoming a carrier.

The first dose should be given within two days of birth, and two more doses should be given before the child is six months.

side-effects

Side effects of the vaccine tend to be quite mild. The injection site is often red and can be sore for a few days afterwards.

Q. If a mother has hepatitis B – can she breast feed her baby ?

Yes, it is safe to breastfeed if the baby has been immunised against hepatitis B.