Does vaccination help children against hepatitis B? Everything you need to know about the hepatitis B vaccine. Is it possible to bathe a one-month-old baby after hepatitis vaccination?

Nine months of waiting, worry, childbirth are behind us - and a small screaming lump is born, which overnight becomes the most dear creature on the whole earth. It would be controversial to say that this is where all the main concerns end. No, they are just beginning!

And the first important question that happy parents have to decide while still in the hospital is whether to give their consent to the hepatitis B vaccination for their newborn or to refuse. No one has the right to force vaccination to be carried out by order. But every doctor is obliged to tell you whether it is necessary to get vaccinated and why it is so important.

We will take the liberty of telling you what the disease is hepatitis in principle, what vaccination against hepatitis gives to newborns, how vaccination against hepatitis is carried out according to different schemes, possible indications and contraindications for such vaccinations, the risks of developing side effects and complications.

Hepatitis as it is

Before deciding whether your newborn should be vaccinated, it should be noted that it is not mandatory. However, knowledge about the very subject of conversation - that is, about the disease hepatitis and its varieties - will not hurt even in the general educational aspect.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and biliary system, which can be acute or chronic. It is caused by viruses, certain types of medications, alcoholic beverages (consumed immoderately and frequently), as well as other factors that beset each of us in everyday life. The causative agent of hepatitis can remain in an active form for a long time in human biological fluids, even while outside the body.

• Hepatitis A (or Botkin's disease) is an acute inflammatory process in the liver of a viral nature. This type of pathology is recognized as the least dangerous, but only in case of timely and adequate therapy. It is successfully cured and almost never becomes chronic.
• Hepatitis B is a pathology of viral origin, which, if not adequately treated, causes irreversible processes in the cells of the organ, provokes the death of hepatocytes, and often becomes chronic. It is dangerous because in the long term the prognosis is not at all joyful - cirrhosis or oncology of the biliary system. In especially severe cases in childhood, it can lead to the death of a small patient.
• Hepatitis C is a “gentle killer.” That is why it is called for the asymptomatic course of the acute form (after infection, which occurs directly through biological fluids or sexual contact). There is no vaccine for this type of hepatitis.
• Hepatitis E is often detected in countries located in the tropical climate zone, with poor sanitation and poor quality water. The routes of infection are through feces, food and water. It is prone to self-healing, but sometimes it can be acute, although it responds well to treatment and does not become chronic. It is most dangerous for women expecting a baby in their final stages.

To do or not to do?

Parents are warned that they have the right to sign a refusal to vaccinate, but responsibility for possible consequences will be entirely on their conscience. Vaccination against hepatitis is recommended by doctors for the following reasons:

• The infection is spreading very quickly and has already become an epidemic on a “universal scale.” Vaccination minimizes the risk of infection;
• hepatitis B, especially acquired in childhood, can become chronic. We have already mentioned the negative consequences in the long term;
• vaccination does not guarantee one hundred percent that the child will not get sick, but the illness will not be so pronounced and severe, and will not become chronic.

In our region, newborns are primarily vaccinated against hepatitis B. Class A virus also has serums; their administration is practiced in hot areas with poor quality water.

But there are also contraindications that must be taken into account. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that the baby will receive benefits from the vaccine, and not significant harm to health, or even a threat to life. This aspect, at least when administering the first dose, lies entirely with the responsibility of the doctors.

Temporary bans include:

• for premature or low birth weight newborns (less than 2 kg), the dates of the first vaccination are postponed;
• the presence of viral or cold diseases at the moment when it is time for the next vaccination;
• increase, even slight, in body temperature, general weakness. A two-week period after illness of any nature.

In such cases, the first or subsequent vaccinations are postponed until complete recovery or the onset of a favorable time. Under no circumstances should a newborn be vaccinated (or in the future if the first one gave an acute reaction):

• if the mother has a history of allergies and yeast is an allergen (vaccines may contain this component due to the nature of production);
• acute allergic reaction of the baby to the first administration of the serum;
• intolerance to any serum components;
• the newborn has been diagnosed with mental disorders or pathologies of the development of the nervous system;
• congenital immunodeficiency.

If a newborn baby is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, then any vaccinations become contraindicated for him.

Symptoms and routes of infection with hepatitis B

The menacing and insidious nature of hepatitis B (and A) lies in the fact that it has a fairly long incubation period. This is the time the virus develops in the blood and “fills” the liver cells before the first symptoms.

All this time, the carrier lives calmly and does not even have a suspicion that a serious and dangerous disease is developing in his body. But it is already dangerous for others, as it is contagious.

And if hepatitis A has clear symptoms after 21 days (this is the incubation period of this virus), then hepatitis B can be completely asymptomatic or with minimal discomfort.

They are often mistaken by parents for the most common childhood illnesses, whims, overwork, and weather influences. But if you pay closer attention, you can “unravel the enemy” by the following signs:

• increase in body temperature (slight and mainly in the afternoon at the onset of the disease);
• urine the color of dark beer and stool almost white (“chalky” stool). In the case of hepatitis B, this symptom may be quite mild;
• apathy, lethargy and capriciousness of the baby, drowsiness, impotence;
• decreased or complete lack of appetite, nausea to vomiting;
• yellowing first of the whites of the eyes and palms on the inside, and then of the entire body.

With adequate treatment, the disease resolves without consequences in 95-98% of cases. But there remains 2-5% in which hepatitis becomes chronic and will subsequently become the cause of many serious liver pathologies, including cirrhosis and cancer.

Routes of infection

We will deliberately focus on this point, since some parents believe that they can protect their child from possible infection. But the virus is transmitted not only in childhood, but throughout life.

So how can you “get a treacherous roommate”:

• the baby can “get” the disease from an infected mother in the womb or during childbirth;
• through household items on which biological fluids of people carrying the virus can a priori remain (towels, toothbrushes, scissors or any other commonplace household items);
• dental and any other medical procedures that are not performed with disposable sterile instruments;
• during unprotected sexual contact;
• during surgical operations, transfusions of blood and its components.

If vaccination against hepatitis B for newborns scares you more than the possible consequences of the disease, which lurks in any, even the most unexpected place, it’s your choice. But is it worth risking the health of your child because of a couple of unpleasant minutes during the procedure itself and possible (but not at all guaranteed) concomitant reactions in the baby for several days after the manipulation?

Vaccination schedule options

There are three vaccination schedules for newborns against hepatitis B. They are used taking into account some factors that influence the baby’s health at this stage and in the future.

To develop stable immunity to hepatitis B, three doses of serum are required, in strict accordance with the vaccination schedule. Only in this case is it possible to protect your child from all sorts of risks regarding a dangerous illness.

The first graph is standard and is used in any case that does not go beyond clinical indications:

• after examination by neonatologists and the somatic and mental state being stated to be normal, 12 hours after birth the child receives its first dose;
• the second vaccination against hepatitis (if there are no contraindications) is given every month (30 days after birth);
• third injection of serum - at 6 months.

The second vaccination schedule is used for children whose close relatives have a dangerous virus in their blood and are carriers. Vaccination occurs according to the following scheme:

• 1 – in the maternity hospital, as with the standard scheme;
• 2 – after a month;
• 3 – thirty days after the second;
• 4 – per year.

The third scheme is used for children who will undergo surgery, regardless of the type of operation:

• the first is done as a standard after birth;
• the second - on the fourteenth day of life;
• the third - on the twenty-first day of life;
• the fourth - at one year of age.

The vaccination schedule may be disrupted due to subjective reasons - illness, lack of vaccine. In this case, the delay time for the next vaccination is taken into account. If the baby has not been able to get the next vaccination for more than three months, then everything must be started all over again.

Preparing for vaccination

Many parents are interested in whether preparation is needed when they are about to vaccinate their infants with hepatitis B. In the maternity hospital, during the first administration of the vaccine, parents, a priori, cannot carry out any preparation. Yes, she is not needed.

Most experts also say the same about subsequent revaccinations. But it’s good to tell them that, because they don’t see the baby’s reaction to the injection, which should be a salvation from a terrible disease.

For many parents whose children have difficulty coping with the effects of vaccination, it is understandable why they refuse to take the next “steps.” We will look at what can happen to children a little later. But we’ll look at what can be done to prevent this from happening, or at least to make it all less painful.

• Recommendations regarding the use of antihistamines are justified, but only partially. If the baby did not have a reaction after the first vaccination, most likely there will be no reaction after the second. But it needs to be done with the same drug as the first one.
• When revaccinations need to be taken into account - the baby must be completely healthy. The doctor must examine the child, listen to the lungs, check the mucous membranes, measure the temperature and only then send him to the vaccination office.
• A “light” stomach is the key to a well-tolerated “execution.” There is no need to overindulge the day before, on the day and after the injection. Let your child eat when he wants.
• If your child was unable to go to the toilet a day before vaccination, it is better to postpone the visit to the clinic until he has a bowel movement.
• A very sweaty baby is thirsty; there is not enough fluid in his body. In this case, it is better not to vaccinate. Give it a drink, wait for it to dry naturally, change clothes, and only then go for manipulation.

Post-vaccination effects cannot be avoided at all. But you can reduce their brightness, reduce discomfort and help the child tolerate these phenomena more easily. There is no need to radically change your lifestyle. Walking in the fresh air is mandatory, you just need to avoid crowded places for several days. The baby’s body is slightly weakened and it is extremely undesirable to give rise to any infection.

Possible reactions

There is practically no reaction to hepatitis B vaccination in a newborn. So the first vaccination will take place without incident. If any occur, the maternity hospital medical staff will provide the necessary assistance. In such cases, we can talk about possible contraindications for revaccination in the future, but not always. Only a pediatrician will be able to fully understand the nature of this phenomenon and give detailed instructions in the future. Newborns have what is called a “sterile” immune system. They get their first experience of communicating with the outside world, in which not only mom and dad and he, who has just been born, live. But there are also many unfriendly viruses, bacteria, microbes and other evil spirits that cause diseases.

Side effects of the drug directly depend on the components included in it. Different vaccine manufacturers use their own additional components, leaving only one main one unchanged - the Australian antigen. This is the virus protein purified from all kinds of impurities. It then becomes the very agent that provokes the formation of stable immunity.

The injection must be given intramuscularly, and not subcutaneously - this way the effect will be of the highest quality. A newborn usually undergoes manipulation in the hip. Next - either in the thigh or in the forearm (at an older age). But they never give an injection in the buttock, since there is a pronounced fat layer there, which minimizes the effect of the vaccine.

The most common reactions to vaccination are:

• slight swelling, hardening in the form of a nodule and redness at the injection site (15-20% of cases). This phenomenon often occurs if the area is wet or the child is sweating a lot. There is nothing wrong, no additional measures need to be taken;
• increase in body temperature to low-grade levels. Very rarely there may be a significant increase. This phenomenon is observed in 5-15%. You can achieve a reduction with commonplace remedies for temperature (Paracetamol, Panadol and others);
• the child becomes capricious, there is weakness, malaise, drowsiness, or vice versa – excitability;
• increased sweating is noted;
• Dyspeptic symptoms may occur - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Appetite worsens. In no case should you “stuff” the baby by force.

Much less often, an allergic reaction in the form of significant redness and rash may occur. This is already a reason to contact a pediatrician. He will prescribe antihistamines that will relieve the symptom.

Such reactions can be present for 2-5 days after vaccination and often go away on their own, without drug support (except for antipyretics, if necessary).

Complications

The development of complications after vaccinations is extremely rare. They are approximately 1 case in 100,000. But it is still possible. It is impossible not to pay attention to this fact, because “who owns the information, owns the world.”

Among the most common complications are:

• allergic reactions that often occur in children whose immediate relatives suffer from this disease. They manifest themselves very acutely and require immediate attention to a pediatrician;
• A rash similar to urticaria is one of the most, at first glance, harmless symptoms. But if it occurs frequently, more serious dermatological ailments may develop;
• Erythema nodosum is a disease of inflammatory origin affecting the skin and subcutaneous vessels;
• development of anaphylactic shock.

The last complication is very dangerous and threatens the very life of the baby. That is why after vaccination it is recommended to stay in a medical facility for at least half an hour so that qualified personnel can provide timely assistance in any unforeseen circumstances.

There are a lot of horror stories out there right now about vaccines. But shouldn’t you think about whether a disease that can be prevented is worse?

Viral hepatitis is one of the most unpredictable infectious diseases. The disease first affects the liver, and then the skin, blood vessels, other digestive organs and the nervous system are involved in the painful process. Because of the high likelihood of encountering the virus, babies are vaccinated in the first days of their lives. Several years after revaccination, immunity against the hepatitis B virus weakens, so everyone can encounter it again.

What kind of disease is hepatitis B and under what conditions does it affect a person? Are hepatitis B vaccinations given to adults and in what cases? Is it possible to feel safe if this disease affects loved ones?

What kind of disease is hepatitis B?

About 5% of the world's population suffers from viral hepatitis B. But in some countries this figure needs to be multiplied by 4. The main source of hepatitis B infection are sick people and virus carriers. For infection, it is enough for only 5 to 10 ml of infected blood to come into contact with the wound. The main routes of infection with hepatitis B:

• sexual - with unprotected sexual intercourse;
• infection occurs through vascular damage: cuts, abrasions, cracks on the lips, if there is bleeding gums;
• parenteral route, that is, through medical manipulations or injections: with blood transfusions, injections with one non-sterile syringe, like drug addicts;
• The vertical route of transmission of hepatitis B is from mother to child at birth.

How does hepatitis B manifest?

1. A person is worried about severe intoxication: lack of sleep, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
2. There is a feeling of pain in the liver and heaviness in the epigastric region.
3. Yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera.
4. Severe itching of the skin.
5. Damage to the nervous system: irritability or euphoria, headaches, drowsiness.
6. Later, blood pressure begins to decrease, and the pulse becomes rare.

This condition may last for several months. If you're lucky, everything ends in recovery. Otherwise, dangerous complications arise:

• bleeding;
• acute liver failure;
• damage to the bile ducts, addition of additional infections.

Should adults be vaccinated against hepatitis B? - yes, since hepatitis B is a chronic disease, once infected, a person will never get rid of it. At the same time, the susceptibility of people around to the virus is high, and the symptoms of hepatitis go away slowly. Vaccination against hepatitis B for adults is necessary to avoid contracting this dangerous disease. This is the only way to prevent the disease.

Indications for vaccination

First of all, children are vaccinated immediately after birth, except for those who have contraindications. After revaccination (at 6 or 12 months), immunity is unstable and persists for five, maximum six years.

Adults are vaccinated depending on the indications. Where can adults get vaccinated against hepatitis B? Vaccination is carried out in a clinic at the place of residence or registration or at work (if employed in a specialized clinic, hospital, outpatient clinic). If desired, the vaccine can be administered in a private clinic for a fee. In exceptional cases, critically ill patients undergoing hemodialysis or those receiving blood transfusions may be vaccinated in hospital if the vaccine is available.

Who is being vaccinated? - all adults at risk.

1. People whose family has a virus carrier or a sick person.
2. Medical students and all healthcare workers.
3. People with severe chronic diseases who regularly receive blood transfusions.
4. Previously unvaccinated people who have not had viral hepatitis B.
5. Adults who have had contact with virus-contaminated material.
6. People whose work involves the production of blood products.
7. Preoperative patients if they have not been vaccinated before.
8. Vaccination of oncohematological patients.

Hepatitis B vaccination schedule

Hepatitis B vaccination schedules for adults may vary depending on the situation and the type of drug.

1. One of the schemes is to give the first vaccination, then a month later another one, and then after another 5 months.
2. Emergency vaccination occurs when a person travels abroad. It is carried out on the first day, on the seventh and twenty-first days. Revaccination of hepatitis B in adults is prescribed after 12 months.
3. The following scheme is used in patients undergoing hemodialysis (blood purification). According to this schedule, an adult is vaccinated four times between procedures in a 0-1-2-12 month schedule.

Where do adults get the hepatitis B vaccine? - intramuscularly, into the deltoid muscle. In rare cases, when a person has a disease with a blood clotting disorder, the drug can be administered subcutaneously.

To avoid false reactions to the vaccine, check whether it was stored correctly.

1. There should be no foreign impurities in the bottle with the drug after shaking.
2. The vaccine cannot be frozen; optimal storage conditions are 2–8 ºC, otherwise it will lose its properties. That is, the nurse must get it not from the freezer, but from the refrigerator.
3. Check expiration dates.

Types of hepatitis B vaccines

There are both individual vaccines against viral hepatitis B and complex ones that additionally contain antibodies against other diseases. The latter are more often used in childhood.

What drugs can be administered to adults?

1. "Engerix-B" (Belgium).
2. "HB-Vaxll" (USA).
3. The vaccine against hepatitis B is recombinant.
4. Hepatitis B recombinant yeast vaccine.
5. "Sci-B-Vac", which is produced in Israel.
6. "Eberbiovak HB" is a joint Russian-Cuban vaccine.
7. "Euvax-B".
8. "Shanvak-B" (India).
9. "Biovac-B".

How often do adults get the hepatitis B vaccine? You can get vaccinated for the first time if there are indications for it, and then monitor the amount of antibodies to the virus in the blood. If there is a sharp decrease in them, the vaccination can be repeated. Health care workers should be immunized regularly, at least once every five years.

Contraindications for adults

Contraindications to hepatitis B vaccination for adults are:

1. Pregnancy and lactation period.
2. Reaction to previous vaccine administration.
3. Intolerance to one of the components of the drug.
4. Acute infectious diseases.
5. Exacerbation of chronic diseases. Vaccination is recommended during the period of normalization of the condition.

Reactions to vaccination and complications

Adults tolerate hepatitis B vaccination well, but due to the individual characteristics of the body, the following reactions may occur:

• soreness and inflammation at the site of vaccine administration;
• tissue compaction, scar formation;
• the general reaction may manifest itself as fever, weakness, and malaise.

What complications can occur in adults after receiving the hepatitis B vaccine?

1. Pain in the joints, stomach or muscle area.
2. Nausea, vomiting, loose stool, tests may show an increase in liver parameters.
3. General and local allergic reactions: itching of the skin, the appearance of a rash in the form of urticaria. In severe situations, it is possible to develop angioedema or anaphylactic shock.
4. Isolated cases of nervous system reactions have been reported: convulsions, neuritis (inflammation of peripheral nerves), meningitis, motor muscle paralysis.
5. Sometimes there is an increase in lymph nodes, and in a general blood test the number of platelets decreases.
6. Fainting and a temporary feeling of shortness of breath are possible.

If the symptoms are not pronounced, bother you for several hours and go away on their own, don’t worry. In case of long-term persistent complaints, it is necessary to consult a doctor and notify the health workers who administered the hepatitis B vaccination about the occurrence of a reaction to the vaccine. How to avoid such situations? It is important to learn how to behave correctly before and after vaccination.

Rules of behavior before and after vaccination

Do adults need a hepatitis B vaccine? Yes, if he is at risk and may encounter patients with hepatitis B. A mild course of the disease will not save a person from possible complications. It is much easier to deal with a reaction to a vaccine than to spend months treating viral hepatitis in case of infection.

The development of viral hepatitis leads to pathological restructuring of liver cells. Vaccination against hepatitis for newborns, carried out according to a standard schedule, helps reduce the risk of the disease.

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What hepatitis is vaccinated against?

To prevent the disease, since 2002, the vaccination schedule for newborns has included vaccination against hepatitis B.

There is also a vaccine against hepatitis A, but this form is typical for hot countries and does not pose a threat to the body. Unlike this type of disease, hepatitis B can cause serious damage to the liver.

Should a newborn be vaccinated?

According to the provisions of the international charter of doctors, any vaccination, including that given against hepatitis B, is voluntary. Therefore, before vaccinating a child, parents are asked to write consent to this procedure.

Arguments in favor of hepatitis B vaccination:

1. Some parents mistakenly believe that their child cannot be infected with a dangerous virus because he is being raised in a prosperous family. But at the same time, neither they themselves nor their children are immune from accidental contact with a sick person.
2. If a pathogen enters the body of a child under five years old, the disease can develop into a chronic form.
3. Of course, having been vaccinated, the risk of infection, although minimal, still remains. But it should be remembered that in this case the disease will be much easier, and complete recovery without any consequences will occur much earlier.
4. Vaccination of newborns against hepatitis does not lead to the development of neurological diseases and does not intensify existing pathologies. This is confirmed by WHO research.

Doctors and virologists urge all parents not to doubt the effectiveness of the existing vaccine. Therefore, you should not refuse routine vaccination in infancy. In this case, immunity against Hepatitis B is maintained for 22 years.

Contraindications to vaccination

Vaccination may be delayed if there are the following contraindications:

• mother's allergy to baker's yeast;
• presence of signs of primary immunodeficiency in the child;
• autoimmune diseases (for example, multiple sclerosis or systemic lupus erythematosus);
• the weight of the newborn is less than 2 kg;
• diagnosed meningitis;
• colds, ARVI and other infections.

Vaccination in newborns

The first vaccination against hepatitis B is given to a newborn in the maternity hospital after mandatory tests and visual examination. The second and third injections are carried out strictly according to the scheme.

Vaccination schedule

There are three vaccination regimens against hepatitis B, which provide immune protection for the body up to twenty-two years of age. The first of them is the standard scheme.

Rapid vaccination is carried out for children at risk. This vaccination is given to newborns whose mothers are infected with hepatitis B.

Emergency vaccination is used when a child is undergoing urgent surgery and it is necessary to quickly develop immunity to the virus.

What vaccine is used

In our country, Russian and foreign drugs produced using genetic engineering are used for vaccination:

1. Yeast liquid recombinant vaccine. Manufacturer: Combotects-LTD, Russia. It is considered the most popular drug used in children's clinics. Cost - 1400-1800 rubles.
2. "Regenvac V" (Binnopharm Russia) is a specially developed vaccine to combat the ayw-type of virus common in our country. Price - about 1500 rubles.
3. Euvax B (Korea) and Sanofi Pasteur (France). Used for vaccination of children under 15 years of age. The cost is about 3000-3500 rubles.
4. "Engeriks V" (Belgium and Russia). Available in both children's and adult dosages. Price - about 4800 rubles.
5. "Eberibovak" (Cuba and Russia). Purchased for mass vaccination. The price varies from 2000 to 3400 rubles.

All vaccination preparations have passed state certification and are safe for humans. They are manufactured using the same technology, therefore they are interchangeable. Vaccines are recommended for administration to children from birth.

Yeast liquid recombinant vaccine Belgian-Russian vaccine "Engerix B" Vaccine "Euvax B" made in Korea Vaccine "Regenvac B"

Where is the vaccine given?

The child is vaccinated intramuscularly to ensure that the antigen enters directly into the blood. The place where newborns are vaccinated against hepatitis B is in the anterolateral thigh area. If a reaction to the drug occurs, all necessary manipulations can be easily carried out here.

When vaccinating adolescents and adults, the injection is given in the deltoid muscle of the arm.

Care after vaccination

After vaccination, the newborn should stay for 30 minutes on the territory of the medical institution where the procedure was carried out. This is necessary so that in the event of a reaction to the administered drug, the baby is provided with timely medical assistance.

In addition, you must follow some rules:

1. For three to four days after vaccination, protect the newborn from large crowds of people.
2. When bathing a child, do not wet the injection site with water or rub it with a sponge or washcloth. If water does get on the wound, you should immediately wet it with a soft cloth.
3. After the injection, you should not introduce new foods into your baby’s diet.
4. Limit walking in rainy or cold weather.

Reaction to the vaccine

As a rule, children tolerate the hepatitis B vaccine quite easily. However, 10–20% may experience a local reaction in the form of redness or thickening of the skin in the injection area. This is the newborn’s body’s response to one of the components of the vaccine - aluminum hydroxide. This reaction is allergic and goes away on its own after a few days.

In approximately 1–5% of children, vaccination may cause other reactions:

• temperature increase;
• slight weakness;
• diarrhea;
• increased sweating;
• headache;
• general malaise;
• redness and itching of the skin.

These reactions develop within 1–2 days after vaccination and then disappear over the next 1–2 days without any medical intervention.

Side effects, complications and consequences

In one out of ten thousand cases, the vaccine administered to a child can cause side effects in the form of:

• hives;
• rash;
• pain in muscles and joints;
• erythema nodosum;
• exacerbation of allergy to yeast dough.

The most serious consequence is considered to be:

• development of Quincke's edema;
• the appearance of serum sickness;
• anaphylactic shock.

Despite the fact that we live in the 21st century, humanity has not yet invented a vaccine for many terrible diseases. And hepatitis B is one of these problems; it is the leader among especially dangerous diseases. It is caused by a specific virus, which, when it enters the body, provokes inflammatory changes in the liver.

The course and forms of the disease can also be asymptomatic - a kind of silent killer hiding inside you. The extreme stages of the disease are cirrhosis, liver cancer, acute liver failure. It is scary that hepatitis B is widespread and vaccination is used to reduce the incidence of the disease.1. When is vaccination carried out?
2. How the infection is transmitted
3. Child vaccination scheme
4. Types of vaccine
5. Combination with other vaccinations
6. Injection site
7. After vaccination
8. Contraindications
9. Is vaccination required?

When is vaccination carried out?

In addition, any test, even the most modern one, can be wrong...

Today there are options: you can get vaccinated against hepatitis B and hepatitis A. And if infection with hepatitis A can occur through unwashed hands, then hepatitis B will enter the body through the blood. And it is not necessarily drug addicts who become infected with it. Just a drop of blood that gets on an abrasion or mucous membrane - and the disease lottery begins its game, the main prize in which will be getting rid of liver cancer or cirrhosis. Chances of winning are 50/50.
It is optimal to organize the first vaccination in the maternity hospital. Because after discharge, a variety of obstacles arise in the form of quarantines, ARVI, loose stools and horror stories from a neighbor (well, where would we be without them)... You can put off resolving the issue for a long time. Until the moment when the vaccine is no longer useful

How the infection is transmitted

• A baby can get the disease from a mother who is already infected.
• If there are circumstances requiring a blood transfusion, the risk increases.
• Being a dentist also carries certain risks, although to be fair, they are small.
• Among the child's close relatives there may be people infected with hepatitis B who do not even suspect it. And through trivial cutting of nails you can also become infected.

Children of different ages can get the disease in different ways. A newborn baby most often follows a “vertical” path from its mother during the birth process. Of course, it is possible to minimize the risks, but this is only if experts are sure that the expectant mother has the virus. What if it just entered the body, but is still in the incubation period? This is how it is transmitted to the baby...

Perhaps if there is a Rh conflict or anemia or any other issues related to blood - and a transfusion is required. There is also an opinion that within 3-5 years a child will definitely get the disease from an infected family member, BUT! Only if he hasn't been vaccinated.

For children who are over a year old, the risks associated with various medical procedures or based on everyday relationships increase. Teenagers 13-18 years old additionally have the risk of contracting the disease through sexual contact or through a needle.

But remember - hepatitis B is not transmitted by airborne droplets, water or food. And after vaccinating your newborn, you will feel much calmer.

Children's vaccination scheme

This schedule is precisely aimed at ensuring that the baby’s body can create the amount of antibodies against hepatitis so that they can protect him from the disease for a long time. Moreover, if the mother is a carrier of hepatitis B, vaccination is mandatory. And here they give not three, but four injections - a special vaccination scheme for children at risk.
In Russian maternity hospitals, as soon as the baby is born, you will be asked to sign a consent to administer the vaccine, including hepatitis B. And if the answer is positive, they will do it in the next few hours.

The first scheme (regular children) “0-3-6”

• No. 2 at three months
• No. 3 when the baby is 6 months old

Second scheme (children at risk) “0-1-2-12”

• No. 1 immediately after birth on the first day of life.
• No. 2, 3, 4 - at 1, 2, 12 months.

Then the barrier against the disease will be fully formed. But exceeding the deadline due to illness and periods of weakness of the child is also not fatal. Vaccinations already given are taken into account, and subsequent ones are given at intervals recommended by the vaccination calendar, despite any missed ones. It may be better to do an analysis for the presence and amount of formed antibodies. Children will no longer need revaccination after a course of vaccinations.

Types of vaccine

The following drugs are used in the country:

• Hepatitis B vaccine, recombinant, yeast (Russia)
• Regevak V (Russia)
• Eberbiovak (Cuba)
• Euvax B (South Korea)
• Engerix V (Belgium)
• H-B-Vah Iinbsp (USA)? Shanvak (India)
• Biovac (India)
• Serum Institute (India)

In our country, the best known type of hepatitis B is the ayw type, against which the drug was created. Regevak B. Of course, all of the above medications are effective, but it is specifically directed against the most common strain.

Combination with other vaccinations

Injection site

After vaccination

Perhaps the child has a fever, nausea, maybe a one-time vomiting or neurological manifestations - it is not at all a fact that these are consequences of the vaccination. The body, weakened after the introduction of the vaccine, needs little to catch the virus. But consult a doctor immediately!!

Contraindications

Often the vaccine is not given because neonatal jaundice is seen as a limitation. Not quite the right approach. Jaundice is formed due to the breakdown of hemoglobin, in this process bilirubin is obtained, which gives the skin its special color. Vaccinating a newborn against hepatitis B will not be burdensome for the baby's liver.

It is also important to understand the difference between a vaccine that activates the immune system and an injury received by the child during childbirth. These are different things and a vaccine injection, or rather the lack thereof, will not help the baby overcome the consequences of childbirth faster.

Be sure to monitor the reaction to the vaccine and before making a decision, you can refresh your memory of the recommendations by re-reading the article on our website.

Is vaccination required?

Not to do them is your right and remember that this right and your peace of mind when using it is given precisely because everyone was vaccinated and the disease was thus defeated.

Of course, everything needs to be approached carefully and without fanaticism. It's up to you to decide. And we really wish you to be confident to the end and never reproach yourself for having once given up the chance for protection.

May all children be healthy and loved!!!

Like AIDS, viral hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with the blood of an infected person, but hepatitis B is 100 times more contagious than AIDS. In the world, more than a quarter of a million people are infected with this disease every year, of which about 50,000 are in our country. There is no effective treatment for hepatitis B virus. Fortunately, there is a simple way to prevent this disease - hepatitis vaccinations.

What is hepatitis B

Hepatitis B(from the Greek word hepar– “liver”, since hepatitis causes damage to the cells of this organ) – this is an acute viral disease. At the onset of the disease, the patient experiences symptoms that resemble those of a common acute respiratory infection (by the way, there are cases when the disease throughout its entire duration is limited to only these symptoms; in these cases, hepatitis B often remains unrecognized: it is mistaken for a cold). Then jaundice appears (yellow discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes), as well as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper abdomen, darkening of urine and discoloration of feces. It should be noted that newborn hepatitis in 90-95% of cases it is asymptomatic, i.e. without “classic” jaundice.

Most often, hepatitis lasts 3-6 weeks and ends with complete recovery. But in 1-2% of cases the disease develops into so-called “fulminant” hepatitis, the mortality rate of which is up to 93%. In addition, there is a danger of the disease transforming into the form of chronic hepatitis (5-10% of all hepatitis sufferers suffer from it). Chronic hepatitis, in turn, can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Unfortunately, chronic hepatitis in children occurs more often than in adults: the probability of chronic infection in children from 1 to 5 years old with hepatitis is up to 50%, and in children who contracted hepatitis in the first year of life - up to 90%.

Infection hepatitis B occurs upon contact with the blood of a sick person. Thus, this disease can be transmitted:

• during transfusion of blood or its components, through indirect contact with the patient’s blood (“syringe” route of infection, common among drug addicts, transmission through reusable medical instruments);
• sexually (hetero or homosexual contacts);
• from mother to child during childbirth;
• during everyday contact (for example, through kissing, through a handshake, through any household items - books, dishes, etc.) with a sick person or a carrier of infection.

Hepatitis vaccinations for newborns

Parents need to remember that timely hepatitis vaccine B will ensure the health of their child in the future. In addition, as already mentioned, it is newborns who have the maximum risk of becoming chronic carriers of the infection. Vaccination is designed to protect those babies born from mothers who are carriers of the hepatitis virus.

Transfer of infection hepatitis B from an infected mother to the fetus in 95% of cases occurs during childbirth. In addition, it is believed that if the virus was not transmitted to the child during childbirth, and the vaccination was not given, then “family” infection will certainly occur over the next 5 years. Therefore, it is especially important to vaccinate children born to mothers who are carriers of the hepatitis B virus in the first hours after birth in order to “get ahead” of the virus. The argument in favor of vaccinating newborns is that before the age of one year, vaccination against hepatitis is more effective and that the reliability of modern tests for hepatitis B is not one hundred percent reliable. It is no coincidence that in developed countries, vaccination against hepatitis B is included in the compulsory vaccination calendars and actually begins from the first days of a child’s life. It was also included in the Russian vaccination calendar.

The standard course consists of three vaccinations. The first two can be considered as initial doses, while the third is designed to boost the production of antibodies in those vaccinated and provide long-term protection against the virus.

Approximate diagram hepatitis vaccinations for newborns is this:

• 1st injection: selected date (for newborns - usually 12 hours after birth);
• 2nd injection: 1 month after 1st injection;
• 3rd injection: 6 months after the first. The main principle for determining the regimen is that the interval between two vaccine injections must be at least 1 month. That is, such schemes as: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months are also quite applicable; 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, although it is better to stick to the standard scheme of 0-1-6 months.

For children born to mothers who are carriers of the hepatitis B virus, a different regimen is used, consisting of 4 injections.

The child’s parents also need to be aware of the circumstances that require special care when carrying out hepatitis vaccinations for newborns. Let's list them:

• a strong unusual reaction to the first injection of the vaccine;
• yeast allergy;
• severe infectious disease (in this case, vaccination is postponed until the condition improves).

There is no data yet on the use of the vaccine in pregnant women. However, the fact that the vaccine does not contain live viruses suggests that the use of the vaccine during pregnancy is safe.

About vaccines

In Russia, only so-called “yeast” recombinant vaccines are used. This is currently the most widely used class of vaccine in the world to prevent hepatitis B.

How are such vaccines prepared, and what does yeast have to do with it? Recombinant technology is a technique from the arsenal of genetic engineering. It consists of the following: a gene responsible for the production of one of the components of the hepatitis B virus (the so-called Australian antigen, or HBsAg) is inserted into the genetic material of ordinary baker's yeast. In the process of reproduction of such yeast, this piece of the virus grows (the expression “by leaps and bounds” could not be more appropriate here). Then it is cleaned of ballast and yeast - and the vaccine is ready. Of course, when preparing it, all kinds of tests are carried out - for sterility, for purity, etc. The vaccines obtained in this way are unusually pure - up to 95% of the vaccine content is pure antigen, i.e. immune-forming component. In addition, they are economical because they do not use expensive components. When introduced into the human body, the Australian antigen is perceived by the immune system as a sign of infection, although in fact it has nothing in common with the live virus and it is impossible to get sick as a result of vaccination. As a result, antibodies are produced, and the person becomes immune to the disease.

Six vaccines against hepatitis B are registered in Russia. Among them there are both domestic and imported drugs. They are all produced using the same recombinant technology and are almost identical. All hepatitis B vaccines are interchangeable: a course of vaccinations can be started with one vaccine and completed with another, although it is preferable to use a vaccine of the same brand, from the same production batch.

The frequency of adverse reactions is fairly standard for all vaccines: up to 10% of vaccinated people report local reactions - thickening and redness of the skin at the injection site. Less common (up to 5% of vaccinations) is a temperature reaction - an increase in body temperature to 37.5-38 degrees. All reactions appear within 1-2 days and disappear within about two days.

The cost of drugs in pharmacies is approximately the same and averages from 5-7 US dollars for each of the 3 vaccinations. You can buy a vaccine and get vaccinated at a clinic near your place of residence. At a commercial vaccination center, the cost of the vaccine itself will be added to the cost of the service and a mandatory examination by a general practitioner, who must give permission for vaccination.

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