Frequently Asked Questions
How Is Hepatitis B Spread?
How Can I Be Sure The
Vaccine Is Safe?
Will My Child
Suffer Serious Side Effects?
Why Offer Hepatitis B Vaccine To My Child?
- How Is Hepatitis B Spread?
It can be spread by
contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person. About
half the people who catch Hepatitis B never feel sick and can spread the
disease without knowing it.
Hepatitis B can also be
spread by the sharing of contaminated needles for intravenous drug use or by
other contacts with infected blood. An
infected mother may pass the disease to a newborn during birth.
- How Can I Be Sure The
Vaccine Is Safe?
Hepatitis B vaccine is
one of the safest vaccines used today. It has been used in Canada
for over 10 years. Hepatitis B vaccine does not contain blood
products or living viruses.
- Will My Child
Suffer Serious Side Effects?
Hepatitis B vaccine
usually has no side effects. Your child may, however, experience
minor reactions such as redness, warmth or swelling at the injection
site, tiredness or slight fever lasting 1-2 days. More severe
reactions are rare and should be reported to your family doctor,
local public health unit or health centre. The risk from this vaccine
is far less than the risk from Hepatitis B disease.
- Why Offer Hepatitis B Vaccine To My Child?
Because of the increase
in the number of reported Hepatitis B cases in Canada, immunization is
being offered to your child's grade to ensure they are protected well
before exposure to the disease.
Note: If your child has a
fever or illness other than a minor cold, the Health Nurse will delay
the Hepatitis B vaccine. If your child has had a previous allergic
reaction to a vaccine or if you have any questions, please contact your
local Health Centre.
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Last Updated: November 08, 2006 |
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