Vaccination

Anyone who is at increased risk of being infected with the hepatitis B virus should consider being vaccinated. This can include injecting drug users, people involved in unprotected sexual activity (or support workers involved with these groups of people). You should also consider vaccination if you are planning to travel to a country where the condition is particularly common.

You can ask your GP or go to your nearest GUM (sexual health) clinic for the hepatitis B vaccination, many drug services also provide vaccination. You will need three injections of hepatitis B vaccine over a period of four to six months for full protection (shorter courses are available for certain at risk groups with more chaotic lifestyles). A blood test is then taken one month after the third dose, to check that the vaccinations have worked. You should then be immune for at least five years. A booster injection is usually given five years after the initial injection.

Anyone exposed to the hepatitis B virus (through a needle stick injury for instance) should be given an injection of immunoglobulin immediately  (an injection of antibodies), as well as the vaccine.

Babies born to infected mothers are given called immunoglobulin after they are born to help prevent being infected. At the same time, a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is given, followed by two doses (with a month in between each), with a booster dose 12 months later.