Hepatitis B vaccination on the safeguarding support unit and SARC

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a liver infection that is spread through blood and body fluids. The infection usually only lasts a few months, but some people can have hepatitis B long term.

Hepatitis B can cause:

• high temperatures
• tiredness
• feeling or being sick
• pain in the tummy
• itchy patches of skin
• your skin or eyes to look yellow in colour

If you develop long term hepatitis B it can cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.

Have I definitely been in contact with hepatitis B?

We do not know if you have been in contact with someone with hepatitis B. Your risk will be worked out after we have thought about what has happened to you. We will then advise you if you need to have vaccinations for hepatitis B.

Do I need vaccination against hepatitis B?

This will also depend on your risk of being in contact and whether you have been vaccinated before.

Lots of children in the UK (born after August 2017) will have already had the hepatitis B vaccinations as part of the normal childhood vaccinations. Some other people will have already been vaccinated too, for travel or because you had a parent who was known to have hepatitis B when you were born.

Do I have to have the hepatitis B vaccination? What if I do not want it?

It is your decision to have the hepatitis B vaccination or not. A discussion with your doctor should help you to make this decision.

However, once you have decided to have the vaccinations it is important that you have all four of them. Your doctor will be able to give you the first one, and will tell you where and when to have the next 3 vaccinations.

How often do I need vaccination and where will I get the other vaccines from?

Full protection from hepatitis B means having 4 vaccinations in total.

The first vaccine will usually be given to you at the SARC.

Depending on your age and where you live you will either come back to the SARC for the other vaccinations, be asked to attend your local STI or GUM clinic, or we will ask your GP to arrange the vaccinations.

• the first vaccination is usually given straight away
• the second vaccination is given 7 days after that
• the third vaccination is given 21 days after the first vaccination
• the fourth vaccination is given after a year. You might want to put a reminder in your phone for this one.

Are there any side effects?

The hepatitis B vaccination is very safe.

You might get some redness and soreness where the injection was given.

Other side effects are very rare.

It is an inactivated (dead) vaccination, so it cannot cause the infection itself.

Is there anyone who cannot have the vaccination?

If you have previously had anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) to the hepatitis B vaccination, or to any of the ingredients of the vaccination you should not have it. If you are worried about this please tell your doctor.

Does the vaccination work?

The hepatitis B vaccination is very effective. In most people it provides protection against hepatitis B.

Are they any other benefits of having the vaccination?

The main benefit of the vaccination is that it protects you from hepatitis B infection.

After the 4 vaccinations most people are protected for life.

Lots of people require hepatitis B vaccination. For example for travel to high risk countries or for working in the caring or medical professions. If you have already had the vaccinations you are very unlikely to need them again.

How do I know if I have hepatitis B?

Depending on when you come to the SARC your doctor will talk to you about taking blood test to look for signs of hepatitis B infection.

Sometimes you need to have a blood test after you have had the three vaccinations, but your doctor will be able to talk to you about this.

If you have any of the symptoms of hepatitis B (see above) then you should tell your doctor or see your GP.

Are there any other infections I need to be protected from?

We will also offer you testing for other sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

Some people need protection against HIV. If your doctor thinks this applies to you, they will talk to you about it.

What should I do if I have problems with the vaccination?

Your doctor can answer any questions you have before you leave the department, or when you come back for your follow up appointment.