Title: Hepatitis B vaccine
Course: Level 3 - Immunization > Section: Antiviral vaccines

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Hepatitis B viruses which cause Hepatitis B diseases are protected by a recombinant vaccine called Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine. If a child is infected with hepatitis B viruses, liver disease may develop many years later in adult life. In Ethiopia, HepB vaccine is routinely given to infants as one of the five vaccines combined in the pentavalent vaccine (which also protects against Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus and Haemophilusinfluenzae type b). The four antibacterial vaccines in the pentavalent vaccine used in Ethiopia were described in Study Session 2.

HepB vaccine is also available on its own as a single vaccine, which may be given to health workers as a "booster" to increase their protection against infection by blood-bore hepatitis B viruses from patients. The vaccination schedule in adults is not the same as the schedule you already know for infants, who receive HepB vaccine as part of the pentavalent vaccine in theEthiopian EPI. The HepB component of the pentavalent vaccine is very safe and effective: up to 95% of infants who receive all three doses of pentavalent vaccine are protected against hepatitis B virus infection. All other characteristics are the same as pentavalent vaccine you discussed in study session 2 (See it on table 2.2)