H-B-VAX II (Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant))
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is H-B-VAX II Used For?
H-B-VAX II is a vaccine that helps prevent hepatitis B infection. It can be given to newborns, infants, children, teenagers, and adults who are at risk of contracting this serious liver infection.
Primary Uses
H-B-VAX II prevents hepatitis B, a viral infection that attacks the liver. Hepatitis B can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, saliva, or other body fluids. People at risk include those born to infected mothers, healthcare workers, people with multiple sexual partners, those sharing needles, and travelers to high-risk areas.
How It Works
H-B-VAX II works by causing your body to produce its own protection by making disease-fighting substances (antibodies) to fight the hepatitis B virus. If a vaccinated person comes into contact with the virus, the body is usually ready and produces antibodies to destroy it. However, like all vaccines, 100% protection cannot be guaranteed.
Good to know: H-B-VAX II is made without any human blood or blood products, and the protein in the vaccine is not alive and cannot give you hepatitis B.
How H-B-VAX II Is Given
H-B-VAX II is given as an injection by a doctor or trained nurse, usually into your upper arm muscle. For babies, the vaccine may be given into the upper thigh muscle.
Dosage Schedule
H-B-VAX II is generally given as 3 doses over 6 months: 1st dose at elected date, 2nd dose 1 month after first injection, 3rd dose 6 months after first injection. For children and teenagers aged 11-15 years, only 2 doses may be given: 1st dose at elected date, 2nd dose 4-6 months later. For babies born to infected mothers, the first dose should be given at birth or as soon as possible.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you or your child miss a scheduled dose, talk to your doctor or nurse and arrange another visit as soon as possible. It’s important to complete the full vaccination series for best protection.
Important: It is important to have your follow-up doses at the appropriate times to make sure the vaccine has the best chance of providing protection against hepatitis B.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Local reaction around injection site (pain, soreness, tenderness, itching, redness, swelling, warmth, hard lump)
- Tiredness, weakness
- Fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough
- Nausea, feeling generally unwell
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- In children: smaller appetite, irritability, crying more than normal, difficulty sleeping
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Tingling of hands or feet, sudden numbness or weakness in legs or arms
- Drooping eyelid or sagging muscles on one side of face (Bell’s palsy)
- Sudden dimming or loss of vision
- Seizure or convulsion
- Headache and fever progressing to hallucinations, confusion, paralysis
- Allergic reactions: dizziness, light-headedness
- Swelling of face, lips, mouth, throat or neck causing difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Skin rash, itching, hives
- Painful, swollen joints (may occur days to weeks after vaccination)
Important Warnings
Before receiving H-B-VAX II, tell your doctor about all medical conditions, medications, and allergies you or your child may have.
Who Should Not Take H-B-VAX II
Do not use H-B-VAX II if you or your child have ever had an allergic reaction to H-B-VAX II, yeast, or any ingredients in the vaccine. Also avoid if the expiry date has passed.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you or your child have: bleeding problems, severe heart or lung disease, diseases that decrease the immune system (like AIDS), acute infection or high temperature, are undergoing dialysis, have allergies to medicines or other substances, or have previously been infected with hepatitis B virus.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. It is not known whether the vaccine is harmful to an unborn baby. Your doctor will give you H-B-VAX II only if clearly needed. It’s also not known whether H-B-VAX II passes into breast milk, so discuss risks and benefits with your doctor if breastfeeding.
Elderly Patients: Hepatitis B vaccines may not be as effective in individuals 65 years of age and older compared to younger people.
Drug Interactions
H-B-VAX II may not work as well if you’re taking certain medications that affect your immune system.
Important: If you’re taking immune-suppressing medications, you may need a higher dose of H-B-VAX II than normal. Your doctor will decide the appropriate course of action.
- Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone)
- Cyclosporin
- Other medicines that decrease the immune system
Alcohol & Driving
H-B-VAX II should not normally interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery, but some people may experience dizziness or light-headedness.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol interactions are mentioned for H-B-VAX II.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use machines until you know how H-B-VAX II affects you. The vaccine may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. Make sure you know how you react before driving or doing anything that could be dangerous.
Storage
It is unlikely that you will be asked to store H-B-VAX II. If you need to store it: keep where children cannot reach it, keep in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C (not in the door compartment), do not freeze as freezing destroys the vaccine, keep in original pack until use, and protect from light.
Overdose Information
Overdose information is not specifically mentioned for H-B-VAX II as it is administered by healthcare professionals in controlled doses. If you experience any serious side effects after vaccination, call your doctor straight away or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
H-B-VAX II works by causing your body to produce antibodies against hepatitis B. The full vaccination series (typically 3 doses over 6 months) is needed for optimal protection. Your body will start producing antibodies after the first dose, but complete protection requires the full series.
It is not known whether H-B-VAX II is harmful to an unborn baby. Your doctor will only give you H-B-VAX II during pregnancy if it is clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
The information provided doesn’t specifically address giving H-B-VAX II with other vaccines. You should discuss with your doctor or nurse about any other vaccines you or your child may need.
Most side effects are mild and temporary. Common side effects like pain at injection site, tiredness, or mild fever can be discussed with your doctor if they worry you. However, call your doctor immediately or go to the Emergency Department if you experience serious side effects like difficulty breathing, swelling of face or throat, or severe allergic reactions.
The duration of protective effect of H-B-VAX II is unknown, so it is not known whether a booster dose will be necessary. Your doctor can advise you based on your individual circumstances.
H-B-VAX II may not work as well in people with diseases or conditions that decrease the immune system. Your doctor will decide whether to give the vaccine and may recommend a higher dose than normal if you have immune system problems.
Because hepatitis B infection can go undetected for a long time, it’s possible someone may already be infected when receiving the vaccine. The vaccine may not prevent hepatitis B in individuals who are already infected at the time of vaccination.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.