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Hepatitis B vaccination

• Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease, so the hepatitis B vaccination (HBV) is recommended as part of routine childhood immunisation in Australia.

• It is listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and funded for children under the Immunise Australia Program at no cost.

• The first dose is given at birth, followed by another three doses at two, four and six months old.

• Immunisation against hepatitis B is achieved using either single-disease or combination vaccines.

Hepatitis B prevalence in Australia
Chronic infection and its sequelae, including cirrhosis and haepatocellular carcinoma, contribute to the majority of the hepatitis B disease burden in Australia.

The prevention strategy for hepatitis B through immunisation in Australia began in the 1980s. A universal hepatitis B vaccination programme was recommended for infants and adolescents in 1996 and the universal infant programme, which includes a dose given at birth, began nationally in 2000.

Vaccines and dosage
There are two types of vaccines currently available in Australia:

• Monovalent hepatitis B vaccines: these include Engerix-B and H-B-Vax II
• Combination vaccines that contain hepatitis B: Infanrix hexa, Twinrix Junior (360/10), Twinrix (720/20).

Who should be vaccinated?
The Australian infant schedule consists of a dose of monovalent HBV given at birth, followed by three doses of a hepatitis B-containing combination vaccine, given at two, four and six months old.

Vaccination of adolescents 10–13 years old is recommended for all those in this age group who have not already received a primary course of HBV.

HBV is recommended for the following groups of adults because they are either at a higher risk of acquiring hepatitis B infection and/or at higher risk of severe disease:

• People living in the same household as someone with hepatitis B
• Anyone who’s had sexual contact with someone with hepatitis B
• Migrants from hepatitis B endemic countries
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Adult haemodialysis patients and patients with severely impaired renal function in whom dialysis is anticipated
• Organ and haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
• HIV-positive adults and other immunocompromised adults
• People suffering from chronic liver disease and/or hepatitis C
• People who use drugs, namely via injection
• Those who receive blood and blood products
• Recipients of certain blood products
• People with development disabilities at day-care facilities
• Inmates of correctional facilities
• Sex-industry workers
• Persons at occupational risk such as healthcare workers, police and emergency services
• Travellers to hepatitis B endemic areas
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