When should I not be vaccinated?
The Hepatitis B vaccination must not be administered if it is known that an allergy to one of the components of the vaccine exists or if serious complications have occurred during an already administered vaccination. It is also not allowed to vaccinate against infectious diseases which are accompanied by fever (body temperature above 38.5°C) at the planned time of vaccination. Milder diseases should nevertheless be discussed with the doctor. This also applies to an existing pregnancy.
Can I vaccinate during pregnancy?
In principle, vaccinations may be carried out during pregnancy as long as they are not live vaccines. Since this is not the case with the hepatitis B vaccination, the vaccination can also be carried out during pregnancy. However, a pregnancy or suspected pregnancy should be reported to the doctor. In this way it can be decided according to the situation whether a vaccination is possible or even recommended. Further interesting information on this topic can be found here: Vaccination during pregnancy
Can I drink alcohol after a vaccination?
Both the consumption of alcohol, as well as the vaccine itself occupy the body. The breakdown of alcohol and the immune system‘s defensive reaction, which leads to the production of antibodies, cost energy. Although this causes an increased effort, it does not weaken the vaccination success. Therefore alcohol may be drunk after a vaccination. However, it should be limited to very small amounts in order not to weaken the body twice.
Is this a live vaccine?
The vaccine against Hepatitis B is not a live vaccine. It only injects components of the virus that are no longer able to reproduce. Therefore, the vaccination cannot cause hepatitis B and cannot infect other people.
The body nevertheless starts a defensive reaction against the virus. In doing so, it forms antibodies that mark the viruses for breakdown by the immune system. These antibodies remain in the body and protect it from becoming infected with hepatitis B in the future.
Hepatitis B can also be vaccinated passively. In passive vaccination, antibodies against the hepatitis B virus are injected directly. Since the body does not have to produce the antibodies itself, they are available more quickly, but the protection is not permanent, since the body has not “learned” to produce the antibodies itself.
For this reason, passive vaccination is used if someone has had contact with hepatitis B infected material (especially in the medical field, here this is called post-exposure prophylaxis). It is usually done in combination with an active vaccination. Passive vaccination is also used for newborns within the first 12 hours of life if the mother is positive for hepatitis B. Nevertheless, these children then receive the regular active vaccination according to the STIKO scheme.
