Need for Awareness regarding Hepatitis vaccines

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global public health problem and it is an important cause of acute, chronic and acute hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the implementation of universal neonatal and availability of adult vaccination, we suspect that the current state of affairs is attributable to inadequate awareness and knowledge of HBV transmission and prevention in the general population, resulting in a low rate of uptake of HBV vaccination by the lay public.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a potentially life-threatening infection and a well-recognized occupational hazard for health-care workers including medical students. The word “hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is most often caused by one of several viruses, which is why it is often called viral hepatitis. Chronic viral hepatitis can lead to serious liver problems including liver cancer. The first hepatitis B vaccine was approved in the United States in 1981. A safer version came to market in 1986 It is on the World Health Organization’s essential medicines list, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.

Prevention is the only safe strategy against high prevalence of viral hepatitis. Having enough knowledge and proper attitudes toward this infection is cornerstones of preventing transmission. Medical students have a very important role in preventing the disease by improving the disease knowledge among themselves and the patients they treat. Safe and effective HBV vaccines have been available since 1982. The implementations of mass immunization programs have been recommended by the World Health Organization since 1991. Since its global expanded coverage, the incidence of HBV infection and liver cancer among infants, children, and adolescents has dramatically decreased.

How to prevent Hepatitis B??

Hepatitis B vaccine is a vaccine that prevents hepatitis B. The first dose is recommended within 24 hours of birth with either two or three more doses given after that. It is safe for use during pregnancy or while breast feeding. For adults, they can take anytime as a first dose and then second dose after 1 month and third dose after 6 months.

So Get Vaccinated against Hepatitis B……..