Hepatitis B Vaccine Pediatric

About this Medicine

Hepatitis B Vaccine Pediatric is a vaccine that prepares your child’s immune system to fight against the hepatitis B virus. This virus causes a serious liver disease called hepatitis. Immunity against hepatitis B also helps in the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in children. Hepatitis B Vaccine Pediatric is meant to be given in the muscles of the thigh to infants younger than 1 year. In older children, it may be given in the muscle of the arm. Your child needs at least 3 doses of Hepatitis B Vaccine Pediatric to be fully protected against the hepatitis B virus. While the first shot can be given within 24 hours of birth, the second shot is given when the child turns 1 to 2 months old (after a minimum gap of 28 days) following the first shot. The final third shot is given between 6 to 18 months of age (at a minimum gap of 16 weeks after the first shot and at least 2 months after the second shot).The vaccination helps stimulate the immune system and builds up high levels of protection against the hepatitis B virus in babies and young children. Therefore, all three doses are important for your child. Do not skip or miss out on any of the doses as that will render the protection ineffective and leave your child vulnerable to hepatitis infection. Hepatitis B Vaccine Pediatric is safe to be given as a stand-alone vaccine or along with other vaccines at the same time.Make sure that the site of the injection is not the same again and again. This will help prevent injection site reaction and pain. Common cold, stomach upset, ear infection or any other minor illnesses should not prevent immunization. However, your doctor may suggest rescheduling the vaccination if your child has a more serious illness. Children who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before taking the shots of Hepatitis B Vaccine Pediatric.Hepatitis B Vaccine Pediatric can cause some minor and temporary short-term side effects. These may include fever, mild crankiness, loss of appetite, skin rash,  body pain, flushing, respiratory symptoms like runny nose, wheezing, or tightness in the throat. Your child may also experience some injection site problems like tenderness, soreness, redness, or swelling. However, these episodes are momentary and subside on their own. If worrisome, do seek your child’s doctor's help.Discuss the vaccine safety with your child’s doctor if your child ever developed a serious allergic reaction to any medicines or has a history of liver problems, kidney problems, blood disorders, birth defects, heart problems, or lung problems. This information is important for planning your child’s vaccination schedule.

How it Works

Hepatitis B Vaccine Pediatric contains surface antigen of hepatitis B virus. This antigen cannot multiply in the body but can help initiate the body's immune response to produce antibodies (proteins) to protect against hepatitis B infections. In short, the vaccine generates an immune response without making your child sick.

Key Facts

Chemical Class :: Vaccines|Habit Forming :: No|Therapeutic Class :: VACCINES|Action Class :: Subunit (Purified antigen)

Safety Overview