HEPATITIS B VACCINE

Indications

• Prevention of hepatitis B

Composition, forms, route of administration

• Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine 
• Suspension for injection in monodose or multidose vial, for IM injection into the anterolateral part of the thigh in children < 2 years and into the deltoid muscle in children ≥ 2 years. 
  DO NOT ADMINISTER INTO THE GLUTEAL MUSCLE.

Dosage and vaccination schedule

Dosage varies according to age and type of vaccine used: follow manufacturer's instructions.

Child: one dose = 5 to 10 micrograms

Adult: one dose = 10 to 20 micrograms

• Standard schedule
  • Neonate and infant: 
    • One dose as soon as possible after birth (preferably within the first 24 hours of life) then a 2^nd dose at 6 weeks and a 3^rd dose at 14 weeks

      or

• One dose as soon as possible after birth (preferably within the first 24 hours of life) then 3 doses administered 4 weeks apart with the 1^st at 6 weeks, the 2^nd at 10 weeks and the 3^rd at 14 weeks

• Child, adolescent, adult: schedule 0-1-6

2 doses 4 weeks apart, then a 3^rd dose 6 months after the 1^st dose

• Accelerated schedule, when rapid protection is required in the event of post-exposure prophylaxis

3 doses administered during the same month on D0-D7-D21, then a 4^th dose one year after the 1^st dose

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• Do not administer in the event of allergic reactions to a previous dose of hepatitis B vaccine. 
• Vaccination should be postponed in the event of severe acute febrile illness; minor infections are not contra-indications.
• May cause: minor local reactions (pain or redness at injection site), fever, headache, myalgia;  rarely: anaphylactic reaction.
• If administered simultaneously with other vaccines, use different syringes and injection sites.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication

Remarks

• At birth, use only the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine. For the following doses, administer a monovalent or tetravalent (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B) or pentavalent (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae) vaccine.
• If an infant was not administered the birth dose, this dose can be administered at anytime during the first contact with health-care providers, up to the time of the next dose of the primary schedule.
• If the vaccination schedule is interrupted before the complete series has been administered, it is not necessary to start again from the beginning. Continue the vaccination schedule from where it was interrupted and complete the series as normal.
• SC route may be used, only if IM route is contra-indicated.
• Shake before use to homogenise the vaccine.

Storage