In This Story
Hepatitis B (hep B) can be a debilitating disease that can cause liver failure and lifelong illness. The hep b vaccine, which includes a primary dose and a booster dose, is proven to prevent liver damage. For decades, the hepatitis B (hep B) vaccine has been recommended to be administered shortly after birth, followed by a second booster within one to two months. On Friday December 7, the Centers for Disease Control vaccine advisory panel voted to change the recommendation from administration of hep B vaccine at birth to beginning the vaccine series to at least two months old.
Rupali Limaye, vaccination and health behavior expert, provides facts and information regarding hep B and the hep B vaccine.
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B, or hep B, is an infection that specifically targets the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Depending on how long the virus is in the body, hep B could present as a mild, short-term, acute illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term, chronic infection resulting in hospitalization.
Symptoms of hep B can range from none at all to fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, dark-colored urine, and others. Many people with hep B do not experience symptoms and may be unaware they have the virus.
How is hep B spread?
Hepatitis B is spread through bodily fluids like blood and semen from an infected person to a non-infected person. Hep B can be spread through sexual contact, but it can also be passed to infants during birth from an infected person, sharing needles or syringes contaminated with infected blood, or contact with an open wound.
While hep B can be found in saliva, the virus does not spread through sharing utensils while eating or kissing or hugging. The virus is also not airborne and cannot be spread through coughing or sneezing.
Why was the hep B vaccination recommended right after birth?
Immunizing right after birth protects infants from preventable diseases that can cause serious illness or death. Vaccines help their body’s develop immunity before they are exposed to harmful disease-causing agents (i.e., virus or bacteria).
The first dose of the hep b vaccine series should be administered right after birth, ideally within the first 24 hours. When the baby is around one to two months, a second dose hep B booster should be given. When administered early, the hep B vaccine offers protection for up to 30 years.
The hep B vaccine isn’t exclusive to infants. Young children, adolescents, and adults who have not previously received their immunizations should also receive the hep B vaccine.
Why is receiving the hep B vaccine important?
The best way to prevent infection is getting vaccinated, and vaccination is a safe and proven way to protect people from both acute and chronic infection. Hep B infection can have serious consequences on the body such as liver cancer, cirrhosis, and death.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: For reporters who wish to speak to Rupali Limaye about hepatitis B and other vaccinations, please email media contact Michelle Thompson at mthomp7@gmu.edu.
Rupali Limaye is an associate professor of global and community health at George Mason University’s College of Public Health. She is seen as an expert in vaccine behavior and decision-making, including vaccine hesitancy and acceptance. Primarily focusing on infectious diseases, Limaye is a social and behavioral scientist and health communication scholar. Her mixed-method work examines how various influences affect health behavior and how to leverage those influences to affect positive behavior change. She also studies how health information can best be communicated to individuals in different contexts and through different channels. In her 20 years of working in global health, she has worked in more than 30 countries from both research and implementation perspectives, on topics including immunization, family planning, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and alcohol, and teaches classes on global disease programs and policies, misinformation, health behavior change, and persuasive communication.
About George Mason University
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.
About College of Public Health at George Mason University
The College of Public Health at George Mason University is the first College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The college is comprised of public health disciplines, health administration and policy, informatics, nursing, nutrition, and social work. The college offers a distinct array of degrees to support research and training of professionals dedicated to ensuring health and well-being for all. The college’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan.
Thumbnail by CDC via Unsplash.