Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by a virus that spreads through the blood. Listed below are the most common ways hepatitis B is transmitted to others:
Direct application to contaminated blood or contaminated body fluids
From an infected mother to her newborn baby during pregnancy or birth
Unprotected intercourse with an infected partner
Distributing or reusing needles (for example, distributing needles for illegal drugs or reuse of poorly sterilized needles, acupuncture, tattoos, or ear or body piercings)
Non-sterilized medical equipment or needles that may be used by doctors, dentists or roadside barbers.
Is hepatitis B transmitted by accident?
No, hepatitis B is not transmitted by simple contact. You will not get hepatitis B from the air, hugging, touching, breathing, coughing, toilet seats, or bumps. You cannot get hepatitis B from eating or drinking with an infected person or from eating food prepared by someone with hepatitis B.
Who is most likely to be infected with hepatitis B?
Although everyone is at risk of developing hepatitis B, there are some people who are more likely to be infected. Your job, lifestyle, or just being born into a family with hepatitis B can increase your chances of getting infected. Here are some of the most common “high risk” groups - but please note that this list is incomplete:
People who are married to someone with hepatitis B or live in close contact with a helper with hepatitis B. This includes adults and children.
People born in countries where hepatitis B is common, or whose parents are born in countries where hepatitis B is common (Asia, parts of Africa and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East).
People living in or traveling to countries where hepatitis B is most common (Asia, parts of Africa and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East).
Adults and teenagers who are sexually active
Men having sex with men
Babies born to infectious mothers
Health care workers and others exposed to blood in their jobs.
Emergency workers
Patients undergoing kidney dialysis
Residents and staff of home groups, institutions, or correctional facilities.
Blood transfusions before 1992, or earlier transfusions of blood that have not been properly screened
Drug users by injection, past and present
People who have tattoos or body piercings
People who go to the doctors, dentists or barbers on the side of the road
What are the recommendations for hepatitis B vaccine?
The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants and children up to the age of 18 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also recommends that adults in high-risk groups get vaccinated.
The hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that is recommended for all babies at birth and for children up to 18 years of age. The hepatitis B vaccine is also recommended for adults with diabetes and those at high risk of infection due to their occupation, lifestyle, living conditions, or country of birth. Because everyone is at some risk, all adults should seriously consider getting the hepatitis B vaccine for long-term protection against a preventable chronic liver disease.
Is the hepatitis B vaccine safe?
Yes, the hepatitis B vaccine is very safe and effective. In fact, it is the first “cancer vaccine” because it can protect you from hepatitis B, which causes 80% of all liver cancers in the world.
With more than a billion doses given worldwide, medical and scientific studies show that the hepatitis B vaccine is one of the safest vaccines ever made.
Can I get hepatitis B from the vaccine?
No, hepatitis B is not transmitted from the vaccine. The vaccine is made from a synthetic yeast product in the laboratory. The most common side effects are redness and pain in the arm where the vaccine was injected.
What is the hepatitis B vaccine schedule?
The hepatitis B vaccine is available at your doctor's office and local health department or clinic. Three doses are generally required to complete the hepatitis B vaccine series, although there is an accelerated two-dose series for adolescents 11 to 15 years of age, and there is a new two-dose vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults in 2017. It is important to note that babies born to infected mothers should receive the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine in the delivery room or within the first 12 hours of life.
First Dose - At any time, but newborns should receive this dose in the delivery room
Second Dose - At least one month (or 28 days) after the first dose
Third Dose - Six months after the first dose (or at least 2 months after the second dose)
Must be at least 16 months between first and third dose. If your vaccination schedule is delayed, you do not need to start the series again, you can continue from where you left off - even if there are several years between doses.
To make sure you are protected against hepatitis B, ask for a simple blood test to see your “hepatitis B antibody titers” (HBsAb) that will confirm if the vaccination is successful.
What can I do to protect myself from hepatitis B?
Because hepatitis B is spread through contaminated blood and body fluids, there are a few simple things you can do to protect yourself from possible infection until your vaccination is complete:
Avoid handling blood or any body fluids directly
Use condoms with partners
Avoid illegal drugs and misuse of prescription drugs, including the injection of such drugs
Avoid borrowing and lending sharp tools such as razors, brushes, earrings, and nail clipper
Be sure to use sterilized needles and equipment for medicine, dentists, acupuncture, tattoos, ear and body piercings
Wear gloves and use a fresh solution of bleach and water to clean the spilled blood
Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after handling or cleansing the blood
Most importantly, make sure you get the hepatitis B vaccine!
Prevention and Vaccination
How can I get hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by a virus that is spread through blood. Listed below are the most common ways hepatitis B is passed to others:
Direct contact with infected blood or infected bodily fluids
From an infected mother to her newborn baby during pregnancy or delivery
Unprotected sex with an infected partner
Shared or re-used needles (for example, sharing needles for illegal drugs or re-using needles that are not properly sterilized for medicine, acupuncture, tattoos, or ear / body piercing)
Unsterilized medical equipment or needles that may be used by roadside doctors, dentists or barbers
Is hepatitis B transmitted casually?
No, hepatitis B is not spread through casual contact. You cannot get hepatitis B from the air, hugging, touching, sneezing, coughing, toilet seats or doorknobs. You cannot get hepatitis B from eating or drinking with someone who is infected or from eating food prepared by someone who has hepatitis B.
Who is most likely to become infected with hepatitis B?
Although everyone is at some risk for getting hepatitis B, there are some people who are more likely to get infected. Your job, lifestyle, or just being born into a family with hepatitis B can increase your chances of being infected. Here are some of the most common "high risk" groups - but please remember that this is not a complete list:
People who are married to or live in close household contact with someone who has hepatitis B. This includes adults and children.
People who were born countries where hepatitis B is common, or whose parents were born in countries where hepatitis B is common (Asia, parts of Africa and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East).
People who live in or travel to countries where hepatitis B is very common (Asia, parts of Africa and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East).
Sexually active adults and teenagers
Men who have sex with men
Infants born to infected mothers
Healthcare workers and others who are exposed to blood in their jobs.
Emergency personnel
Patients who are on kidney dialysis
Residents and staff of group homes, institutions, or correctional facilities.
Recipients of blood transfusions before 1992, or more recent recipients of improperly screened blood
Injection drug users, past and present
People who get tattoos or body piercing
People who use roadside doctors, dentists or barbers
What are the recommendations for the hepatitis B vaccine?
The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants and children up to age 18 years by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also recommends that adults in high-risk groups be vaccinated.
The hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that is recommended for all infants at birth and for children up to 18 years. The hepatitis B vaccine is also recommended for adults living with diabetes and those at high risk for infection due to their jobs, lifestyle, living situations, or country of birth. Since everyone is at some risk, all adults should seriously consider getting the hepatitis B vaccine for a lifetime protection against a preventable chronic liver disease.
Is the hepatitis B vaccine safe?
Yes, the hepatitis B vaccine is very safe and effective. In fact, it is the first “anti-cancer vaccine” because it can protect you from hepatitis B, which is the cause of 80% of all liver cancer in the world.
With more than one billion doses given throughout the world, medical and scientific studies have shown the hepatitis B vaccine to be one of the safest vaccines ever made.
What is the hepatitis B vaccine schedule?
The hepatitis B vaccine is available at your doctor's office and local health department or clinic. Three doses are generally required to complete the hepatitis B vaccine series, although there is an accelerated two-dose series for adolescents age 11 through 15 years, and there is a new 2-dose vaccine that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults in 2017. It is important to remember that babies born to infected mothers must receive the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine in the delivery room or within the first 12 hours of life.
1st Shot - At any given time, but newborns should receive this dose in the delivery room
2nd Shot - At least one month (or 28 days) after the 1st shot
3rd Shot - Six months after the 1st shot (or at least 2 months after the 2nd shot)
There must be at least 16 weeks between the 1st and 3rd shot. If your vaccine schedule has been delayed, you do not need to start the series over, you can continue from where you have left off - even if there have been years between doses.
To be certain that you are protected against hepatitis B, ask for a simple blood test to check your “hepatitis B antibody titers” (HBsAb) which will confirm whether the vaccination was successful.
What else can I do to protect myself from hepatitis B?
Since hepatitis B is spread through infected blood and infected body fluids, there are several simple things that you can do to protect yourself from possible infection until your vaccination is complete:
Avoid touching blood or any bodily fluids directly
Use condoms with sexual partners
Avoid illegal drugs and prescription drug misuse, including injection of such drugs
Avoid sharing sharp objects such as razors, toothbrushes, earrings, and nail clippers
Make sure that sterile needles and equipment are used for medicine, the dentist, acupuncture, tattoos, ear and body piercing
Wear gloves and use a fresh solution of bleach and water to clean up blood spills
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching or cleaning up blood
Most importantly, make sure you receive the hepatitis B vaccine!
