Vaccination for hepatitis B
Since 1995, vaccination against hepatitis B in Germany has been recommended by the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO). Hepatitis B is an inflammatory disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is transmitted via body fluids (parenterally), especially through blood, but also through vaginal secretions and sperm or breast milk. Since it is only possible to become infected with the hepatitis D virus if there is a hepatitis B infection, this vaccination also protects against the hepatitis D virus.
For whom is the vaccination useful?
The vaccination is particularly useful for infants and can be started from the second month of life. The vaccination is also recommended for people with a very weakened immune system. These are, for example, people who suffer from kidney failure and need to be dialyzed, patients with pre-existing liver diseases or HIV patients. Furthermore, vaccination is also recommended for people who have an increased risk of infection, for example, people who travel to countries where a high level of infection with the virus has been proven, or who have frequently changing sexual contacts and people who have regular contact with people infected with chronic hepatitis B, either for family or professional reasons, or. These may be people who are in close contact with hepatitis B patients, but especially people who are more likely to come into contact with blood, for example staff in the
- Medical field
- Nurses
- Police officers
- Drug addicts
- Patients requiring dialysis
- Patients requiring transfusion or
- Patients before major surgical procedures
What should be observed with children?
As vaccinations are very important for children to protect them from infectious diseases, all vaccinations recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination should be given in good time. It is misleading to believe that a disease you have gone through is more protective than a vaccination. If vaccinated children come into contact with pathogens, the body also starts the desired defensive reaction.
However, since it is prepared for this by the vaccination, the body can react in a targeted manner and the child does not become ill. When vaccinating, it should be ensured that the child is healthy at the time of vaccination and has no allergy to components of the vaccine. Children are usually more sensitive to pain and have a thinner layer of fatty tissue under the skin. For this reason, vaccinations are given to small children in the front of the thigh. The special feature of hepatitis vaccination in infancy is that no test to detect the presence of the antibodies in the blood has to be performed to ensure the success of the vaccination.
