Which of the 3 options is right for you?
By generating enough antibodies, the body can ward off infection if exposed to the virus.
The vaccines are each delivered by injection.
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Uses
Hepatitis B vaccines prevent all subtypes of the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
They are used for primary immunization, which means making a person immune to a disease.
In 2018 and again in 2021, the ACIP updated itsguidelines for hepatitis Bfollowing the FDA approval of Heplisav-B.
Children and adolescents under 19who have not gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated.
Adults 19 through 59who have not been previously vaccinated should also be vaccinated.
This includes people with a severeyeast allergy, as the vaccines are cultivated in yeast cells.
For these people, Engerix-B is offered in latex-free vials, while Heplisav-B is available in latex-free pre-filled syringes.
This includes infants exposed to infected maternal blood during childbirth.
Options include:
The safety of Heplisav-B in adults on dialysis has not been established.
No recommendations have been made with respect to the use of Engerix-B or Recombivax HB in immunocompromised people.
Severe side effects are rare.
Common
The list of common side effects are similar for all four hepatitis B vaccines.
This acts as an adjuvant, an ingredient that amplifies the body’s response to vaccines.
Even so, local reactions tend to be relatively mild.
Severe
Severe side effects of hepatitis vaccines are rare.
This includes the risk of a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction known asanaphylaxis.
There are no major drug interactions associated with Engerix-B, Heplisav-B, or Recombivax HB.
Still, it is important to advise your healthcare provider if you are on animmunosuppressive therapyof any sort.
Such a treatment may, in theory, impair your body’s ability to produce antibodies.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Viral hepatitis in the United States: data and trends.
GlaxoSmithKline.Package insert - Engerix B.
VBI Vaccines.Package Insert - PREHEVBRIO.
Merck & Co.Package insert - Recombivax HB.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Immunization schedules | Schedule changes & guidance.
GlaxoSmithKline.Package insert - Twinrix.
Cangene bioPharma.Package insert - HepaGam B.
World Health Organization.Observed rate of vaccine reactions: hepatitis B vaccine.
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B Vaccine Administration.
