Complete information about the hepatitis b vaccine in newborns

Hepatitis B vaccine is 1 of 5 types of immunization that must be given before the child is 1 year old. This type of vaccine is among the first vaccines that must be given when a newborn is born. Why should newborns be given the vaccine for hepatitis B and what are the benefits of this immunization?

What is the hepatitis B vaccine?

Hepatitis B immunization is an immunization used to prevent liver infection and cirrhosis due to the hepatitis B virus.

According to Immunize, hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects liver function ranging from mild in a few weeks to severe that lasts a lifetime. There are two types of hepatitis B infection, acute and chronic.

Acute hepatitis B virus infection is a short-term disease that occurs in the first 6 months after a person is exposed to the virus. Acute infections caused by the hepatitis B virus, namely:

• Fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, clay-colored stools)
• Muscle, joint, and abdominal pain

In addition, hepatitis B infection can occur chronic or stay in a person's body for life. Most who have these do not experience certain symptoms, but chronic hepatitis B infection is a serious disease and can result in:

• Liver damage (cirrhosis)
• Heart cancer
• Dead

Hepatitis B virus that enters the body can cause hardening of the liver which leads to liver failure and liver cancer. If allowed to continue, hepatitis B infection can be one of the causes of death for newborns in Indonesia.

Until now, no effective hepatitis B treatment has been found. But no need to worry, the hepatitis B vaccine is here to help prevent babies and adults from getting the disease.

immunization for hepatitis B should be given to newborns 24 hours after birth. Launching from a press release from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, this type of vaccine is useful for preventing hepatitis B transmission from mother to child during the birth process.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revealed that this immunization is 75-95 percent effective in preventing the passage of the hepatitis B virus from birth mothers to their babies.

Immunization acts as a deterrent so that the body can fight the hepatitis B virus. The hepatitis B vaccine is made from a part of the hepatitis B virus but will not cause infection with the disease.

How does the hepatitis B vaccine work?

Hepatitis B immunization can be done at the health center, clinic, or hospital. Hepatitis B is included in mandatory immunization for children and is given three times within 6 months or 12 hours after exposure to the hepatitis B virus.

Quoting from the Hepatitis B Foundation website, for babies born to mothers infected with the hepatitis B virus, the vaccine must be given within the first 12 hours of life.

• The first shot: when a new baby is born
• Next injection: when the baby is 2,3,4 months old

If your child misses a series of vaccine shots, there is no need to restart. For example, you have had the first vaccine and stopped, so your little one can get the second shot when you can.

To make sure that someone is protected against hepatitis B, your child can have a simple blood test to check for antibodies and make sure the vaccine is successful.

Meanwhile, for adults aged 18 years and over, the hepatitis B vaccine used in the United States is Heplisav-B (Dynavax). This vaccine is given in two separate doses for one month.

Who needs the hepatitis B vaccine?

Everyone needs hepatitis B immunization because the disease caused by this virus can last in the short and long term.

This one vaccine is administered as 2-4 times in a period of 1-6 months. Here are the people who need the hepatitis B vaccine.

Infant (0-18 months)

Why are newborns given the vaccine immediately? The immune system of newborns is still weak. For this reason, he is very susceptible to various diseases from the environment, including the hepatitis B virus.

Newborns should receive their first hepatitis B immunization after birth and this vaccine series is completed at six months of age.

In infants born to mothers who are positive for hepatitis B virus infection, vaccination must be accompanied by hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg).

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Center for Data and Information, 95 percent of hepatitis B transmission occurs vertically, namely from mother to baby during delivery. While the other 5 percent occurs intra-uterine or while in the womb.

If hepatitis B transmission occurs in infancy, it is likely that this virus will last a long time in the baby's body and be carried until he is an adult. As a result, the baby is exposed to chronic hepatitis B. If not treated quickly, this can lead to complications and lead to death.

The total vaccine received by infants is 3 to 4 at a dose of 0.5 ml or 1 ml, respectively. According to the children's immunization schedule released by IDAI in 2017, babies will receive the hepatitis B vaccine again after 2 months, 9 months, and 15 months.

However, if the first and third vaccines are administered together with diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus (DTP) vaccines, the child should only receive 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine.

Unvaccinated adolescents (2-18 years)

If a person has not been given the hepatitis B vaccine as a baby, when he is a teenager he must be given the vaccine. All children and adolescents who are less than 19 years old should be given the hepatitis B vaccine because viral infections can strike at any time.

Especially if this group lives in an environment or a hepatitis B endemic country. Vaccination can be done 3 to 4 times, with each dose ranging from 5-20 mg or the equivalent of 0.5-1ml.

Vaccination doses and schedules are very dependent on the type of hepatitis B vaccine used by the health care provider you are attending.

To be sure, you should consult a health worker or doctor on duty there directly.

Sometimes the vaccine used for hepatitis B is also combined with the hepatitis A vaccine, so the rules for administering the vaccine and the dose given are also different.

Hepatitis B vaccine protection can last up to 20 years or up to a lifetime. Therefore, it is better not to re-vaccinate if you have received 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine previously.

Adults

Not only babies and children, adults also need to be immunized against hepatitis B. As for adults who are at risk of hepatitis B infection, such as:

• Have a partner who has hepatitis B
• Being sexually active in a relationship with more than one person over a long period of time
• Currently undergoing treatment for sexually transmitted diseases
• Men who have sexual contact with other men
• Having sexual intercourse with people with hepatitis B
• Health care workers who are at risk of being exposed to the patient's blood or body fluids
• Tourists visiting areas with high hepatitis B rates
• People who have chronic liver disease, kidney disease, HIV infection, or have diabetes

If you have never had the hepatitis B vaccine and have the above risks. immediately contact the doctor to get immunized to prevent this viral infection that attacks liver function.

Pregnant mother

Quoting from the NHS, the impact of hepatitis B infection on pregnant women can cause severe illness in mothers and chronic infections for babies. This is what makes the hepatitis B vaccine recommended for pregnant women in the high-risk category for hepatitis B infection.

Hepatitis B immunization is safe for pregnant women, along with DPT and influenza vaccines.

Hepatitis B vaccine schedule

Quoted from the official website of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the schedule for the first hepatitis B vaccine (monovalent) is best given within 12 hours after birth, preceded by an injection of vitamin K1 in the left thigh at least 30 minutes beforehand.

The schedule for administering the monovalent HB vaccine is at 0, 1, and 6 months of age. Infants born to HBsAg positive mothers are given HB vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) in different parts of the body.

If HB is given in combination with DTPw, the schedule for vaccine administration is at the age of 2, 3, and 4 months. If the HB vaccine is in combination with DTPa, the schedule for administration is at 2, 4, and 6 months of age.

Meanwhile, the vaccine dose and schedule in preterm infants is the same as for term infants. However, there are several things that need to be considered in premature babies, namely:

• Passive immune strength through maternal transmission in preterm infants is lower than that of term infants.
• If the baby's weight is very small, which is less than 1,000 grams, immunization is given after the baby's weight reaches 2,000 grams or when the baby is 2 months old.
• Hepatitis B1 immunization is given at 2 months of age or more, unless the mother is HBsAg positive

Babies born prematurely can still get hepatitis B immunization, but they need special attention.

Conditions that make children need to be aware of the hepatitis B vaccine

Although hepatitis B immunization has many benefits, there are things that make a person need to be aware of this drug, namely:

Have life-threatening allergies

The hepatitis B vaccine includes immunizations that must be given to infants and adults. However, if the baby has allergies that are so severe that they can be life-threatening, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Quoting from Immunize, if a person has an allergic reaction that can endanger life after getting a dose of hepatitis B vaccine, or a severe allergy to the ingredients in the vaccine, chances are he will not be vaccinated.

You can ask your doctor or health worker to find out the ingredients and components in hepatitis B immunization.

Being unwell

When you have a minor illness, such as a cold, cough, or fever, your doctor will usually delay giving the vaccine.

If the immunization is carried out when a person is not feeling well, the vaccine cannot work properly to fight the virus. The doctor will wait for it to heal or give other suggestions.

What are the side effects of hepatitis B immunization?

All drugs have side effects, the hepatitis B vaccine is no exception. The possible side effects of immunization after a person has been immunized against hepatitis B can be mild to very severe.

In infants, the hepatitis B vaccine also has a risk of side effects. Your baby may have a slight fever or pain at the injection site for a few days.

But don't worry, these side effects tend to be very mild and even rare.

This vaccine contains a virus that is no longer active so it will not cause infection or inflammation in the body. So, this type of hepatitis B immunization is very safe and beneficial for the health of your little one in his infancy.

Mild side effects after getting hepatitis B immunization, namely:

• Scar at the injection site
• Fever above 37.7 degrees Celsius

These side effects usually occur after the injection and last for one to two days. The doctor will tell you more about this reaction.

Side effects are very rare

Although most people who get the hepatitis B vaccine don't have side effects, in rare cases serious problems can occur, such as:

Fainting

Some people may experience fainting after undergoing a medical procedure, including vaccinations. To overcome this, you can sit or lie down for 15 minutes after getting hepatitis B immunization.

This can help prevent fainting and injuries from falls. Tell your doctor or medic if you experience dizziness, blurred vision, or ringing in your ears.

Shoulder pain

The location of the hepatitis B immunization injection is in the right arm. In very rare cases, some people have shoulder pain that may be more severe or last longer than the normal wound that is present after the injection.

Severe allergic reaction

Any treatment can cause a severe allergic reaction. However, severe reactions to vaccines are very rare, estimated to be 1 in a million vaccinations, and occur within minutes to hours after vaccination.

As with any drug, it is unlikely that the vaccine will cause serious injury or death.

Things to do when there are serious problems after the hepatitis B vaccine

Serious problems caused by hepatitis B immunization are very rare, even rare. However, if you are worried, look for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as a high fever or other abnormal signs.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction include:

• Skin rash
• Swelling of the face and throat
• Difficulty breathing
• The heart beats fast
• Dizzy head
• Fatigue

The above conditions can occur minutes to hours after administering the vaccine. If you experience an allergic reaction or other emergency signs, immediately contact the nearest clinic or hospital.

Hepatitis B immunization costs

Basically, the cost of the hepatitis B vaccine depends on each hospital. However, the cost range for one injection at birth ranges from 120-180 thousand rupiah. For more details, you can ask this question at the hospital or birthing center where you gave birth.

It is important to remember, although young children often show no symptoms when exposed to hepatitis B infection, the risk of children developing chronic hepatitis problems is quite high.

In fact, 90 percent of children who get hepatitis before 12 months of age will develop chronic hepatitis. Until now there is no cure for chronic hepatitis B and there are few reliable treatments.

Therefore, giving hepatitis B vaccine to children from birth is the best way to prevent it.

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