“By the reports provided by the World Health Organization, 2,850,000 people became newly infected with hepatitis in 2017. Viral hepatitis A and B affects 325 million people worldwide, causing 1.4 million deaths a year”.

Hepatitis is considered the second major killer infectious disease, after tuberculosis (Tuberculosis or TB is a disease that’s caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Usually, lungs are attacked by the virus, but they can also damage other parts of the body.), and nine times more people are infected with hepatitis than HIV.”

But hepatitis is preventable and treatable.

Statistics and experiences show that the most efficient and trustable way to prevent hepatitis is vaccination, which has proved its effectiveness.

The good news is that Hepatitis vaccination is simple, highly effective, and there is nothing for you to worry about. This blog is prepared by the Southern Nevada Occupational Health Center, and it is going to cover all you need to know about Hepatitis vaccines.

Hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis A is often spread through eating contaminated water or food or contacts, including sexual relations with an already infected individual.

Hepatitis B is spread by contact with body fluids, blood or sharing IV drug needles of an infected person, or when a baby is born to a mother who is already infected. It can include contact with items that they could have blood or body fluids on them such as toothbrushes and razors.

Both types of hepatitis are different, but the diseases they cause are the same, including:

  • Inflammation of the liver,
  • Vomiting, 
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). 

Hepatitis is extremely dangerous; they can lead to cirrhosis liver cancer or even death.

 

Hepatitis A and B vaccines

Hepatitis A and B vaccines are considered the most effective way to prevent this disease. The vaccine exposes you to a small dose of the virus, which makes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine is not effective for an active infection that has already developed in the body.

 

Why is hepatitis so dangerous?

Hepatitis A virus can survive up to seven days on dried surfaces and ten months in water.

Hepatitis B virus can survive on surfaces for at least seven days.

 

Who Should Get the Hepatitis A and B Vaccine?

All the children that are between 12 months and 23 months need to get Hepatitis vaccines by the CDC regulations. It also suggests that any infant aged 6 to 11 months who are traveling internationally needs to get vaccinated too. But there are some groups of adults that vaccination is essential for them, including:

  • People who have chronic liver problems like cirrhosis or Hepatitis C or need a liver transplant.
  • live with an individual who has Hepatitis A or B infection;
  • Have/ have had sexual contact with an infected person
  • Gays and bisexual males who engage in high-risk sexual activity
  • Anyone who uses illegal drugs
  • If you travel to countries where hepatitis A is common. The best source to check is the CDC’s travelers’ health website.
  • Parents adopt a child from a country where hepatitis A is common or people who are close to them.
  • Military personnel
  • People exposed to risk through their work, such as workers who come in contact with stool or sewage, police, lab workers who are dealing with hep A and B viruses, and those who give first aid or medical help.
  • Those who work in child daycare centers, residents of drug and alcohol treatment centers, and correctional facilities.
  • People with hemophilia.
  • Users of illegal drugs. 
  • People need frequent blood products.

 

Who should not get the Hep vaccines?

You have any life-threatening, severe allergies.

  • If you have ever suffered a fatal allergic reaction after hepatitis vaccination, or are allergic to portions of this vaccine, you may be advised not to get vaccinated.

 You are not feeling well. 

  • If you feel like having a moderate sickness, such as a cold, you may not get the vaccine today. If you are severely ill, you should probably wait until you recover.

In case you are pregnant, let your doctor know. It is unknown whether this vaccine is safe for pregnant women or not, although the risk is considered to be very low.

 

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A and B?

The symptoms normally appear in an infected individual after 2 to 6 weeks and usually last less than two months, although some people may feel sick for as long as six months.

Not all infected adults will experience symptoms. That means you could contract hepatitis A or B, and spread the viruses to others, without realizing it.

Symptoms of Hepatitis may include:

  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Jaundice (skin turn yellow, eyes white)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Feeling unwell
  • Dark urine
  • Fatigue

How to know if we are allergic to hepatitis A & B Vaccine?

In some cases, the vaccine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called Anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be deadly and needs immediate medical attention. If your breathing has become difficult, have swelling of the tongue and throat, a rash, or itching after the injection, appeal/tell your doctor right away.

Some are allergic to latex, if this is so for you, inform your doctor. The rubber plunger of the prefilled syringe and the needle cover contain latex that can cause an allergic reaction in people suffering a latex allergy.

 

The side effects of the hepatitis A & B vaccine

Mild-to-moderate problems:

  • Swelling, redness, or soreness where the shot was given.
  • Headache, tiredness, and loss of appetite

Severe problems (rare):

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Wheezing
  • Hives
  • Pale skin
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Dizziness

 

How long is the hepatitis vaccine suitable for?

It is clearly not known how long protection is given from one hepatitis vaccine dose. But it has been proved to last for at least ten years.

One single dose of hepatitis vaccine at any time before you travel internationally can provide enough protection for most healthy people.

For long-lasting protection, you will need two doses.

These two doses for long-lasting protection should be given at least six months apart. Children are vaccinated regularly between their first and second birthdays. Adolescents and older children can get the vaccine after 23 months.

 

Conclusion

At the beginning of 1996, Hepatitis A and B vaccines were recommended in the United States. The number of reported infection cases each year has dropped from around 31,000 cases to fewer than 1,500 cases since then.

Due to the worries over hepatitis, World Hepatitis Day is marked on 28 July each year to raise understanding and awareness of viral hepatitis.Also, due to the achievements obtained by vaccination, OSHA regulates some necessary kind of vaccines for employees to prevent possible infections.

We tried to cover all you need to know about the Hepatitis A and B vaccine which are driven from the most commonly asked questions by our clients at Southern Nevada Occupational Health Center (SNOHC). For further information about services performed at SNOHC, you can navigate through the menu of this website. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

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