Hepatitis B vaccine

Protection for infants and children at risk of contracting hepatitis B

Type of vaccine

Single hepatitis B vaccination

Protects against

Hepatitis B

Primary course

3 doses

Boosters

A blood test can be performed five years after primary immunisation to check whether a booster is required

Suitable for ages

From birth onwards

What is the hepatitis B vaccine?

The hepatitis B vaccine provides protection for babies born to hepatitis B-infected mothers, children who live with someone who has hepatitis B or children who are travelling to or planning to live in a country where hepatitis B is widespread.

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that’s spread through blood and body fluids.

While the majority of adults who contract hepatitis B are able to fight off the virus and fully recover within one to three months, 90% of babies and 20% of older children who contract it develop a chronic infection. This puts them at greater risk of developing life-threatening problems such as scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.

How does the hepatitis B vaccine work?

The hepatitis B vaccine is an inactivated vaccine made without any human blood or blood products or any other substances of human origin. It cannot give your child the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The vaccine works by causing your child’s body to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the disease.

Who should have the hepatitis B vaccine?

Currently, protection against hepatitis B is included in the 6-in-1 combination vaccine routinely given to all babies as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.

However, there is some uncertainty about how effective the vaccine is in preventing disease in those previously unexposed to hepatitis B. Many parents question whether their child really does need this vaccination, especially if they are in a low-risk group for contracting the virus.

At BabyJabs, we advocate for parent choice and believe in creating an immunisation schedule specific to each child. If you feel your child is at higher risk of contracting hepatitis B then this vaccination can be given separately rather than as a combined vaccine.

Our advice is that you contact us to discuss your child’s needs.

Hepatitis B vaccine FAQs

Research suggests that a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine followed by two more doses within the first 12 months of a child’s life can reduce the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B by approximately 90% in infants of HBeAg-positive mothers and almost all HBeAg-negative mothers.

Like all vaccines, the hepatitis B vaccine can cause side effects. For the majority of people, they’re mild.

The most common side effects are:

  • Soreness at the injection site
  • Dizziness
  • Headache

Less common side effects are:

  • Hard lump, redness, swelling, pain, itching, purple spot, tenderness, or warmth at the injection site
  • Unusual tiredness or weakness

Rare side effects can include various aches, pains and stiffness, chills, diarrhoea, sweating, decreased appetite, nausea or vomiting, sleep disruption, sudden redness of the skin, swollen glands, welts and weight loss.

Most of these symptoms self-resolve but you should always let us know if you have any concerns.

There has been some research to explore whether the hepatitis B vaccine is associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Other studies have concluded that there is no strong evidence to confirm this link.

The vaccine may cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in a small number of people; this is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes weakness and paralysis, from which most, but not all, sufferers make a good recovery.

Your child may not be able to have the hepatitis B vaccine if they had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or if they are hypersensitive to yeast or any of the other vaccine ingredients.

The container of the HBvaxPRO vaccine contains latex, so this vaccine may not be suitable if your child has a latex allergy.

We would usually need to delay the immunisation for premature babies and/or babies with a low birth weight.

Each hepatitis B shot is usually given in the thigh.

Studies indicate that infants who are vaccinated against hepatitis B remain immune to the illness for at least 30 years.

Babies at risk of developing hepatitis B from infected mothers should receive their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of being born.

The rest of the vaccination series (usually two more doses) will be completed at intervals during your child’s first 12 months.

We will discuss the intervals with you during your initial consultation.

In most cases, it isn’t necessary for the hepatitis B vaccine to be administered beyond the initial course of three doses. However, further doses can be given if your child needs them later in life.

Adults who are at risk of contracting hepatitis B can receive a three-dose vaccine. This includes (but is not limited to):

  • People at risk of infection by sexual exposure
  • Current or recent injection-drug users
  • Household contacts of someone with hepatitis B
  • Healthcare staff who might be exposed to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids
  • People with HIV infection
  • International travellers to high-risk areas
  • People with hepatitis C virus infection
  • People with chronic liver disease

Yes, the hepatitis B vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines.

No, a skin test is not required. A blood test can be performed five years after primary immunisation to ascertain whether a booster is required.

Yes. Under the NHS vaccination schedule, babies have three separate doses of the hepatitis B vaccine – at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age – as part of the combined 6-in-1 vaccine.

Hepatitis B vaccine ingredients

Name: HBvaxPRO

Age: Suitable from birth to 15 years

Manufacturer: Sanofi Pasteur MSD

Active ingredients: Hepatitis B virus surface antigen, recombinant (HBsAg)*

* Produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain 2150-2-3) yeast by recombinant DNA technology

Other ingredients: Sodium chloride (NaCl), borax and water for injections

This vaccine may contain traces of formaldehyde and potassium thiocyanate, which are used during the manufacturing process

Mercury content: Nil

Aluminium content: 0.25mg**

** Some manufacturers’ leaflets reference the amount of the aluminium compound (e.g. aluminium hydroxide), whereas we have calculated the amount of elemental aluminium within the compound

Contains porcine gelatin?: No

Contains dairy products?: No

Licensed for use in the UK

HBvaxPRO patient information leaflet: Click to view

Name: Engerix B

 

Manufacturer: GlaxoSmithKline

Active ingredients: 10µg hepatitis B surface antigen

Other ingredients: Sodium Chloride, Disodium phosphate dehydrate, Sodium dihydrogen phosphate

Mercury content: Nil

Aluminium content: 0.25mg*

* Some manufacturers’ leaflets reference the amount of the aluminium compound (e.g. aluminium hydroxide), whereas we have calculated the amount of elemental aluminium within the compound

Contains porcine gelatin?: No

Contains dairy products?: No

Licensed for use in the UK

Engerix B patient information leaflet: Click to view

Name: Vaxelis (6-in-1 DTaP, Hep B, IPV & Hib vaccine)

Age: Suitable from age six weeks up to 15 months (however, NHS England recommends it for up to 10 years of age for those with incomplete vaccination status)

Manufacturer: Sanofi Pasteur

Protects against: Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio & Hib

Active ingredients: Each 0.5 mL dose contains not less than 20IU diphtheria toxoid, not less than 40 IU tetanus toxoid, Bordetella pertussis antigens [20 mcg pertussis toxiod (PT), 20 mcg filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), 3 mcg pertactin (PRN), and 5 mcg fimbriae types 2 and 3 (FIM)], 10mcg Hepatitis B surface antigen, Poliovirus (Inactivated) [Type 1 (Mahoney) 40 D antigen units, Type 2 (MEF-1) 8 D antigen units, Type 3 (Saukett) 32 D antigen units], Haemophilus influenzae type B polysaccharide [3 mcg Polyribosylribitol phosphate, 50mcg conjugated to meningococcal protein]

Other ingredients: Sodium phosphate, water for injections

* Aluminium phosphate and amorphus aluminium hydroxyphosphate sulphate are included in the vaccine as adjuvants. The vaccine may also contain traces of glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, neomycin, streptomycin, polymyxin B, and bovine serum albumin

Mercury content: Nil

Aluminium content: 0.32mg*

* Some manufacturers’ leaflets reference the amount of the aluminium compound (e.g. aluminium hydroxide), whereas we have calculated the amount of elemental aluminium within the compound

Contains porcine gelatin?: No

Contains dairy products?: No

Licensed for use in the UK

Vaxelis Patient Information Leaflet: Click to view

Aftercare

We’ll give you detailed aftercare advice for your child after their vaccination(s), including what to do in the event of any side effects.

Your child may experience some redness, tenderness and/or swelling at the injection site, so it’s helpful to expect this. These side effects should self-resolve within a few days.

You can download our Patient Aftercare leaflet here.

If your child is unwell outside of clinic hours, please call 111 for advice or go to A&E if they need urgent medical attention.

Individual advice about the hepatitis B vaccination

Need advice about whether your child should have the hepatitis B vaccine? The BabyJabs team is here to listen and answer your questions to help you decide.