HEPATITIS B VACCINATION

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus and is spread through blood, other body
fluids and contaminated needles.

Hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommend that all newborns, infants and children, especially sexually
active teenagers be vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Some high risk individuals for whom vaccination is recommended are:

1. Health care workers, including doctors, dentists, nurses, blood and lab
   technicians.

2. Emergency workers - including paramedics, fire fighters
   and police; Hemodialysis patients.

3. Military personnel.

4. Morticians and embalmers.

5. Patients and staff of institutions for the mentally handicapped,
   inmates of long-term correctional institutions.

6. Ethnic groups with a high rate of hepatitis B including Chinese, Koreans,
   Indochinese, Filipinos, Alaskan Eskimos, Haitians, and American Indians.

7. People with multiple sexual partners.

8. Intravenous drug users.

9. Recipients of certain blood products.

10. Household contacts and sex partners of hepatitis B carriers.

11. International travelers: Those who are already infected will not benefit
    from vaccination. However, infants born of mothers who are carriers of
    the hepatitis B virus can be protected. A simple blood test can
    determine whether someone is a hepatitis B carrier.

Immunization for Hepatitis Vaccination:

Immunization requires three doses of vaccine according to the following
schedule:

1st dose: For infants born to infected mothers - within 12 hours.
          For infants born to mothers who test negative - within one to
          two months following delivery.

2nd dose: 1 month later.

3rd dose: 6 months after the first dose.

Administration is by intramuscular injection in the thigh or upper arm.

The vaccines provide immunization in about 90% of recipients.

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TEST RESULTS AND INDICATIONS FOR VACCINATION

Checking To See If The Patient Needs Hepatitis B Vaccine.

One must use a combination of two tests to truly determine if a patient is
a carrier, already immune or still susceptible to the hepatitis B virus. The
physician can use HBsAg and Anti-HBc or HBsAg and Anti-HBs.

HBsAg Positive and Anti-HBc positive: The patient is a carrier.
DOES NOT NEED THE HEPATITIS B VACCINE.

HBsAg Negative and Anti-HBc positive: The patient has been exposed and has
probably developed natural immunity. Alternatively, he may be an individual
with an isolated Anti-HBc result (HBsAg negative, Anti-HBc positive and
Anti-HBs negative). DOES NOT NEED THE VACCINE.

HBsAg Negative Anti-HBc negative: The patient is susceptible to hepatitis B.
GIVE THE FULL VACCINE PROTOCOL.

HBsAg positive and Anti-HBs negative: The patient is infected with
hepatitis B and is probably a carrier. DOES NOT NEED THE HEPATITIS B VACCINE.

HBsAg negative and Anti-HBs positive: The patient has already been exposed
and has developed natural immunity or has been successfully vaccinated.
DOES NOT NEED THE VACCINE.

HBsAg negative and Anti-HBs negative: The patient is susceptible.SHOULD
RECEIVE THE VACCINE.