The Disease

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. It is not caught by simply being near to someone with the disease, like many infections. Hepatitis B cam only be caught – with rare exceptions – form blood or sexual contact. Though common in many parts of the world, it is rare in the UK, where only 20 or 30 children catch the disease every year. Most people who catch the disease make a complete recovery, but some will go on to develop serious disease or liver cancer.

The Vaccine

Vaccination against hepatitis B, though given to all children in many countries, is not routinely given in the UK, where only those at particular risk are vaccinated. The vaccine is reasonably effective, protecting 4 out of ever 5 people vaccinated.^{1 2 3 4}

There is concern that the vaccine may trigger the serious neurological disorder multiple sclerosis (MS) in some people.⁵ It can almost certainly cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) – a rare autoimmune disorder that causes weakness and paralysis, from which most, but not all, sufferers make a good recovery – in a small number of people.⁶ The vaccine also appears to cause several other immune related disorders in susceptible people: these include juvenile diabetes⁷, thrombocytopaenia purpura (a rare bleeding disorder), optic neuritis (an inflammation of the optic nerve at the back of the eye, causing temporary or permanent blindness, and the most common first sign of MS)⁸ and rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic, and potentially debilitating, inflammatory arthritis)⁹. The vaccine can also cause a kin disorder called lichen planus that has also been reported in children receiving the vaccine.¹⁰ It may be a cause of chronic fatigue.^{11 12}

The choices

Engerix B Paediatric
Manufacturer:	GlaxoSmithKline
Protects against:	Hepatitis B
Active ingredients:	10µg hepatitis B surface antigen
Mercury content:	Up to 1µg
Aluminium content:	0.25mg
Other ingredients:	Disodium phosphate dihydrate Sodium dihydrogen phosphate
Primary course:	3 doses over a 7-month period
Boosters:	A blood test can be performed 5 years after primary immunisaiton to ascertain whether a booster is required

HBvaxPRO
Manufacturer:	Sanofi Pasteur MSD
Protects against:	Hepatitis B
Active ingredients:	5µg hepatitis B surface antigen
Mercury content:	Nil
Aluminium content:	0.25mg
Other ingredients:	Borax
Primary course:	3 doses over a 12-month period
Boosters:	A blood test can be performed 5 years after primary immunisaiton to ascertain whether a booster is required

The supply of single and small combination vaccines may change over time. At BabyJabs we are on the constant lookout for safe and effective vaccines to offer your child. We may obtain different vaccines to those listed above. We will only offer you alternative vaccines if we are completely confident of their safety and efficacy.


Go back to vaccines at a glance

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¹ Hadler SC et al. Long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine in homosexual men. New England Journal of Medicine 1986; 315(4) :209-14.

² Coursaget P et al. Twelve-year follow-up study of hepatitis B immunization of Senegalese infants. Journal of Hepatology 1994; 21(2): 250-4.

³ Whittle H. Jaffar S. Wansbrough M. Mendy M. Dumpis U. Collinson A. Hall A. Observational study of vaccine efficacy 14 years after trial of hepatitis B vaccination in Gambian children. BMJ 2002; 325(7364): 569.

⁴ West DJ. Calandra GB. Vaccine induced immunologic memory for hepatitis B surface antigen: implications for policy on booster vaccination. Vaccine 1996; 14(11): 1019-27.

⁵ Hernán MA. Jick SS. Olek MJ. Jick H. Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine and the risk of multiple sclerosis: a prospective study. Neurology 2004; 63(5): 838-42.

⁶ Duclos P. Adverse events after hepatitis B vaccination. CMAJ Canadian Medical Association Journal. 147(7):1023-6, 1992 Oct 1.

⁷ Pozzilli P et al. Hepatitis B vaccine associated with an increased type 1 diabetes in Italy. Presented at the Annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association, San Antonio, TX. June 13, 2000.

⁸ Geier DA. Geier MR. A case-control study of serious autoimmune adverse events following hepatitis B immunization. Autoimmunity 2005; 38(4):295-301.

⁹ Pope JE. Stevens A. Howson W. Bell DA. The development of rheumatoid arthritis after recombinant hepatitis B vaccination. Journal of Rheumatology 1998; 25(9): 1687-93.

¹⁰ Calista D. Morri M. Lichen planus induced by hepatitis B vaccination: a new case and review of the literature. International Journal of Dermatology 2004; 43(8): 562-4.

¹¹ Shepherd C. Is CFS linked to immunisations? The CFS Research Review, Winter 2001. Available at http://www.cfids.org/archives/2001rr/2001-rr1-article03.asp. Accessed January 17, 2006.

¹² Girard M. Autoimmune hazards of hepatitis B vaccine. Autoimmunity Reviews 2005; 4(2): 96-100.