Frequently Asked Questions
- How Can I Be Sure The Vaccine Is Safe?
- How Is Hepatitis B Spread?
- Why Offer Hepatitis B Vaccine To My Child?
- Will My Child Suffer Serious Side Effects?
How Can I Be Sure The Vaccine Is Safe?
Hepatitis B vaccine is one of the safest vaccines used today. It has been used in Canada for over 10 years. Hepatitis B vaccine does not contain blood products or living viruses.
It can be spread by contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person. About half the people who catch Hepatitis B never feel sick and can spread the disease without knowing it.
Hepatitis B can also be spread by the sharing of contaminated needles for intravenous drug use or by other contacts with infected blood. An infected mother may pass the disease to a newborn during birth.
Why Offer Hepatitis B Vaccine To My Child?
Because of the increase in the number of reported Hepatitis B cases in Canada, immunization is being offered to your child's grade to ensure they are protected well before exposure to the disease.
Will My Child Suffer Serious Side Effects?
Hepatitis B vaccine usually has no side effects. Your child may, however, experience minor reactions such as redness, warmth or swelling at the injection site, tiredness or slight fever lasting 1-2 days. More severe reactions are rare and should be reported to your family doctor, local public health unit or health centre. The risk from this vaccine is far less than the risk from Hepatitis B disease.