Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B Vaccination
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Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccine contains different ingredients including a hepatitis B virus’ protein (HBsAg), sodium chloride, yeast, and formaldehyde (Shepard et al., 2006). The sodium chloride acts as an acid regulator while formaldehyde helps to inactivate any viruses in HBsAg. Meanwhile, yeast facilitates the growth of HBsAg protein which triggers the production of antibodies to fight against hepatitis B viruses (Shepard et al., 2006). Administering the vaccine involves three main intramuscular injections delivered in the intervals of one and six months after the first dose. For infants, the vaccine is given within the twenty-four hours of birth. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all children under twenty-four months old should receive the vaccine (Weinbaum et. al., 2008).
Hepatitis B vaccine is given to children to enable them to develop immunity against the disease since their own immunity is not fully developed. Children can easily acquire the disease if they get in close contact with an infected family member or friend. Similarly, healthcare workers are often at high risk of contracting the disease and the vaccine serves to lessen the risk (Shepard et. al., 2006). Due to the nature of their work, health care workers get in frequent contact with blood which exposes them to high risk of contracting blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis. There are several minor side effects of the vaccine, such as fever, fatigue, runny nose, and irritability which easily go away on their own.

They disappear after a few hours of being vaccinated. However, the major side effects including soreness, allergic reactions, and high temperatures should be addressed by a health practitioner. Overall, provision of hepatitis B vaccine is a public health safety measure that should be readily provided.
References
Shepard, C. W., Simard, E. P., Finelli, L., Fiore, A. E., & Bell, B. P. (2006). Hepatitis B virus infection: epidemiology and vaccination. Epidemiologic Reviews, 28(1), 112-125.
Weinbaum, C. M., Williams, I., Mast, E. E., Wang, S. A., Finelli, L., Wasley, A., & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2008). Recommendations for identification and public health management of persons with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. MMWR Recomm Rep, 57(RR-8), 1-20.