Can I Prevent Hepatitis B?
How To Prevent Hepatitis B
Getting the hepatitis B vaccine is the best method of hepatitis B prevention. However, hepatitis B vaccines are not available in all parts of the world. In Europe, it greatly differs from country to country. Some countries such as France and Germany have universal vaccination programmes geared towards infants while countries such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom do not provide a universal vaccination programme.1 In the United Kingdom hepatitis B vaccinations are available for certain risk groups.2
If you have already been exposed to the virus and are infected with hepatitis B, a vaccination won't have any effect on the disease.
Since hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and body fluids, there are ways to help prevent hepatitis B infection. These include:
| • | Avoid sharing personal items with people. These include razors, toothbrushes, earrings and nail clippers |
| • | Make sure that clean needles are used for tattoos and body piercings |
| • | If you visit a barber, make sure that they use clean razors |
| • | Use condoms when you have sex, particularly if you have multiple sex partners |
| • | Avoid illegal drugs. If you do continue to inject illegal drugs, never share needles or syringes |
| • | If you are a healthcare provider, follow good practices for using and disposing of needles and ensure that you are immunised against hepatitis B |
If you think that you have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus, it is important to visit your healthcare provider and get a hepatitis B blood test. This is the only way to know for sure if you have been infected with hepatitis B, and remember to always follow the hepatitis B tips listed above.
References
1 CDC-UNICEF-VHPB-WHO Meeting, Istanbul 20062 Immunisation Against Infectious Disease - "The Green Book", Department of Health, Chapter 18 - Hepatitis B http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthprotection/Immunisation/Greenbook/dh_4097254 accessed 16 September 2009
