Lqr# @hptyQtQs~ bW (Infant hepatitis B)
pYwQXk~wQkrNy sm|bn~{ @w`rwOr#
j`wQk pYwX
Q k~wk
Q rN v#dsthn mgQn~
Lqr#vn~ ipqENE vQgs @n`mQ@L~ @hptyQts
Q ~
bW en~nw lb`@q~.
@hptyQtQs~ bW ynE kOmk~q?
@hptyQtQs~ bW ynE jWvQw k`ly pEr`m a`s`qny vQy h#kQ qr#NE
@r`~gykQ. ey a#wQvn~@n~ ak~m`vt blp`n vyQrsyk~ mgQnQ.
@mm @r`~gy a`s`qny vn bQLQqEn~ @r`~g l]N @pn~vn~@n~
iw` adE vX@ynQ, n#wQnm| @r`~g l]N kQsQ@s~w~ @pn~vn~@n~
n#w. @k@s~vEvq, @mm @r`~gy a`s`qny vn bQLQqEn~@gn~
90%k~ qk~v`m jWvQw k`ly pEr`m sQy r#{Qr pYv`hy wOl @mm
vyQrsy wb`gn~n` awr @vnw~ ay @vw @my v&`p~w kQrWmq
kl h#kQy. @hptyQtQs~ bW qr#NE @ls a`s`qny vENE ay@gn~
sQyyt 25k~ pmNm sQy jWvQw@y~ psE k`l@y~qW ak~m`@v| pQLQk`
vr\{nyvWm @h`~ ak~m`v kQYy` @n`kQrWmt bqEn~vWm vQy h#kQy.
@hptyQtQs~ bW p#wQ@rn~@n~ @k@s~q?
@hptyQtQs~ bW vyQrsy r#{Qry, lQAgQk XY`vyn~ sh @kL mgQn~
@hptyQtQs~ bW a`s`qnyvRNE a@ykO@gn~ phw a`k`ryt p#wQrQy
h#kQy:
• mw~qYv& en~nw~ krn upkrN hvE@l~ x`vQw` kQrWm
• wQyENE wOv`l
• @r\sr\, qw~ bEr#sE a`qQy hvE@l~ x`vQw` kQrWm
• lQAgQk sm|bn~{w`
• up@w~qW mv@gn~ bQLQq`t
• s`m`n&@yn~ vQv^wvR wOv`l mgQn~, qr#@vkO@gn~ qr#@vkOt
@hptyQtQs~ bW vLk~v`gw h#kQq?
ov|, @hptyQtQs~ bW vLk~v` gw h#kQy. @hptyQtQs~ bW vLk~v`
gw h#kQ vd`w~m v#qgw~ sh k`r\&]m kYmy vn~@n~
pYwQXk~wQkrNyyQ. @hptyQtQs~ bW en~nw bQLQqEn~ upn~ vQgs sh
Lqr# vQy pEr` a`r]`k`rW @ls lb`qQy h#kQy.
m`@g~ bQLQq`v pYwQXk~wQkrNy kl yEw~@w~
a#yQ?
@hptyQtQs~ bW en~nw upwQn~ psE h#kQ vQgs lb`qWm a`rm|x
kQrWm v#qgw~ vn~@n~ ey h#kQ wrm| Plq`yk vn bvt sh
qr#NE @ls a`s`qnyvW@m| ihl avq`nm a#wQ bQLQqE vQy sh
b`l Lqr# vQy pEr`m a`r]`v lb`@qn bvt vg bl` g#nWm
s[h`y.
Lqr# @hptyQtQs~ bW en~nw hqEn~v`qQy
yEw~@w~ a#yQ?
j`wQk @s_K&y sh @@vq& pr\@y~;N kvEn~sQly (National
Health and Medical Research Council) v#nQ
vQ@X~;Z @@vq& a`ywn mgQn~ @mm en~nw ap pYj`v wOl
a#wQ @hptyQtQs~ bW @r`~gy adE kQrWm, @r`~gy @h~wO@vn~ a#wQvn
sAkWrNw` nQs` a#wQvn asnWp sh mrN adE kQrWmt sh
avs`n cX@yn~ o|s~@tY|lQy`@vn~ @hptyQtWs~ bW wOrn~ kQrW@m|
qQr\G k`lWn v#L#k~vW@m| up`ym`r\g@y~ @k`tsk~ vX@yn~ wr@y~
nQr\@q~X @k@r\.
Lqr# @hptyQtQs~ bW pYwQXk~wQkrNy sm|bn~{
v#dQ vQs~wr m` ht pvsn~n
ob@g~ bQLQq` l#bWmt @pr @h`~ l#bENE vQgs, ob@g~
@@vq&vry` @h`~ vQn~nBE m`w`v vQsQn~ ob smM @hptyQtQs~ bW
pYwQXk~wQkrNy sm|bn~{@yn~ s`kc|C` krnE lbn awr
ob@g~ qr#v`t pYwQXk~wQkrNy lb`qWm sm|bn~{@yn~ wWrNyk~
gn~n` @ls il~l` sQtQnE a#w. ob vQsQn~ ob@g~ bQLQq`v
pYwQXk~wQkrNy kQrWmt @w`~r` gw@h`w~, up@w~qW lb`@qn
m`wY`v bQLQq` s~}`vrvR vQgs lb`@q~. @my upwQn~ p#y 24 sQt
vys qQn 7 @wk~ lb`qWm @y`~g&@v|.
ob@g~ qr#v`v sm|pRr\N vX@yn~ pYwQXk~wQkrNy vWm s[h`
@hptyQtQs~ bW en~n@w~ wvw~ m`wY` wOnk~ avX&@v|. @mm m`wY`
vys m`s @q@k~q,W hw@r\qW sh h@y~qW ob@g~ bQLqQ ` ht kYm`nEkl
S v
lb`@qn @vnw~ en~nw~ smM lb`@qn b#vQn~ ob@g~ qr#v`t
amwrv iqQktE wOdvl~ a#nWm avX& vn~@n~ n#w.
o|s~@tY|lQy`@v| x`vQw` krn @hptyQtQs~ bW en~n@whQ j`nmy
vX@yn~ @vns~ krn lq vyQrs@yn~ @k`tsk~ sh a#lEmWnQym|
lvN s~vl~p pYm`Nyk~ adAgO@v|. en~nw mgQn~ obt
@hptyQtQs~ bW a`s`qny vWm sQqE @n`@v|.
m`@g~ qr#v` nQymQw k`lyt @pr ipqEn@h`w~
kOmk~ sQqE@v|q?
pYwQXk~wQkrNy kQrWmt @pr prW]` kl yEwO
l#yQs~wOv
ob@g~ qr#v` asnWpnm|, pYwQXk~wQkrNy kl~ q#mQy yEwOy,
ob@g~ @@vq&vry` @h`~ @hqQy smM k}` krn~n.
ob@g~ qr#v`v pYwQXk~wQkrNy kQrWmt @pr, phw kQsQym|
@qyk~ a#wQnm|, ob@g~ @@vq&vry`t @h`~ @hqQyt pvsn~n:
swQ 32kt adE g#b| k`lyk~ @h`~ up@w~qW gY$m| 2000 t vd` adE
brk~ a#wQ klQn~/adE brQn~ upqQn qr#vn~, nQymQw k`lyt sh
nQymQw brt upqQn qr#vn~ @mn~ @hptyQtQs~ bW en~nwt
@h`[Qn~ pYwQc`r @n`qk~vyQ. @mv#nQ bQLQqEn~ ht @hptyQtQs~ bW
sm|bn~{@yn~ pYm`Nvw~ a`r]`vk~ a#wQ bvt vg bl` g#nWm
s[h` vys m`s 12qW @hptyQtQs~ bW bRs~tr\ m`wY`vk~ lb`qWm
avX&@v|.
c pYwQXk~wQkrNy krn qQn@y~qW asnWpnm|
c kQsQym| qr#NE as`w~mQkw`vyn~ a#wQnm|.
en~nw mgQn~ mv|kQrQ lb`qWmt blp$mk~
a#wQ@v|q?
v#dQqEr vQs~wr
pEUl~ aw~q#kWm| mgQn~ qk~vn a`k`ryt up@w~qW lb`@qn
@hptyQtQs~ bW m`wY`v mgQn~ mv| kQrQ lb`qWm a`rm|x kQrWm
@h`~ mv|kQrQ qQgtm lb`qWm pvw~v` g#nWmt blp$mk~ a#wQ
@n`@k@r\.
@hptyQtQs~ bW en~nw mgQn~ a#wQvQy h#kQ
awOr# a`b`{
@vnw~ pYX~n a#wQq?
Lqr#vn~ s[h` @hptyQts
Q ~ bW pYwX
Q k~wk
Q rN v#dsthn sm|bn~{
v#dQqrE vQsw
~ r s[h` ob@g~ @@vq&vry` @h`~ @hqQy smM
s`kc|C` krn~n.
www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation
www.immunise.health.gov.au
Translating and
interpreting service
Call 131 450
bhEl awOr# a`b`{
en~nw @h~wO@vn~ a#wQvn @b`@h`~ bhEl awOr# a`b`{ al~p vn
awr ik~mNQn~ n#wQvW yyQ.
@m|v` awr:
• en~nw~ kl pY@q~X@y~ @v|qn` gwQy, rw~ p#h#y sh iqQmWm
• m[ uN gwQy
• en~nw~ kl pY@q~X@y~ w`vk`lQkv a#wQvR kOd` g#tyk~
iw`m vQrlv a#wQvQy h#kQ awOr# a`b`{
• iw` qr#NE as`w~mQk pYwQkQYy` (Anaphylaxis)
pYwQXk~wQkrNyt psE ob@g~ bQLQq`@g~ @s_K&y sm|bn~{@yn~
kns~sl~lk~ a#wQnm|, @@vq&vr@ykO @h`~ @hqQyk hmEvn~n.
kQyvQy h#kQ a`k`ryt @mm lQyvQl~l lb` g#nWm s[h` I@m|l~ lQpQny: immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
vQ@X~;@yn~ s[hn~kr n#wQnm|, @mm pYk`Xn@y~ a#wQ r$p mgQn~ a`k^wQ sh @pn~vWm s[h` pmNk~ qk~v` a#wQ awr sw&
@s~v`vn~, phsEkm| @h`~ @s~v` lbn ayv @n`@pn~vyQ.
anEmw kQrWm sh pYk`Xy kQrWm 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne.
© Department of Health, December 2013 (1312009) PH028 hQ vQk~@t`~rQy`nE rjy mgQnQ.
Infant hepatitis B
Immunisation information
The National Immunisation Program
provides free hepatitis B vaccine to
infants shortly after birth.
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a serious disease that can be contracted
throughout life. It is caused by a virus that affects the
liver. Babies who get this disease may only have mild
symptoms, or have no symptoms at all. However, up to
90 per cent of those infected as babies will have the virus
in their bloodstream for life and may be able to pass it
on to other people. As many as 25 per cent of people
chronically infected with hepatitis B may develop liver
cancer or liver failure later in life.
How is hepatitis B spread?
Hepatitis B virus is spread in the blood, sexual secretions
or saliva of a hepatitis B infected person by:
• sharing drug injecting equipment
• sharps injury
• sharing razors, toothbrushes etc
• sexual contact
• mother to baby at birth
• child to child, usually through open sores or wounds.
Can hepatitis B be prevented?
Yes, hepatitis B can be prevented. The most important
and effective way of preventing hepatitis B is immunisation.
Hepatitis B vaccine can be safely given to babies shortly
after birth and through infancy.
Why does my baby need
to be immunised?
It is important to start the hepatitis B immunisation as soon
as possible after birth to ensure that the immunisation is
as effective as possible and offers protection from hepatitis
B throughout infancy and early childhood when the risk of
becoming chronically infected is high.
Why introduce infant
hepatitis B immunisation?
Expert medical bodies such as the National Health
and Medical Research Council strongly recommend
this vaccine as part of a long-term prevention strategy
to reduce the amount of hepatitis B disease in our
community, to reduce the illness and death from
complications due to the disease and to eventually
eliminate hepatitis B from Australia. Babies will receive
hepatitis B immunisation free as part of the routine
childhood immunisation schedule.
Tell me more about infant
hepatitis B immunisation
Before or soon after you have your baby, your doctor or
midwife will discuss hepatitis B immunisation with you and
will ask you to make a decision about whether you want
your baby immunised. If you choose to have your baby
immunised the birth dose will be given as soon as the
baby is stable, preferably within 24 hours of birth and
up to seven days of age.
Your baby will need three more doses of the hepatitis B
vaccine to be fully immunised. These will be given at two,
four and six months of age in combination with your baby’s
other routine childhood immunisations so your baby will
not receive any additional needles.
The hepatitis B vaccines used in Australia contain a
genetically engineered part of the virus and a small amount
of an aluminium salt. You cannot catch hepatitis B from
the vaccine.
What if my baby is born early?
Preterm babies, less than 32 weeks gestation or less than
2000 grams birth weight, do not respond as well as term
babies do to hepatitis B vaccines. These babies require
a booster dose of hepatitis B vaccine at 12 months of
age to ensure that they have adequate protection against
hepatitis B disease.
Will the vaccine affect breastfeeding?
Extensive experience indicates that the birth dose of
hepatitis B vaccine does not interfere with either the
establishment or maintenance of breastfeeding.
Possible side effects
of hepatitis B vaccine
Common side effects
Pre-immunisation checklist
Immunisation should be deferred if your child is unwell.
Speak to your doctor or nurse.
Before your child is immunised, tell the doctor or nurse
if any of the following apply:
c Is unwell on the day of immunisation
c Has any severe allergies.
Any more questions?
For more information about the hepatitis B infant
immunisation program speak to your doctor or nurse.
Further information
www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation
www.immunise.health.gov.au
Translating and
interpreting service
Call 131 450
The most common side effects of the vaccine are minor
and disappear quickly.
These include:
• soreness, redness and swelling at the injection site
• mild fever
• a temporary small lump at the injection site.
Extremely rare side effect
• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction).
If you are concerned about your baby’s health after
immunisation consult a doctor or nurse.
To receive this document in an accessible format email: immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this publication show models and illustrative settings
only, and do not necessarily depict actual services, facilities or recipients of services.
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne.
© Department of Health, December 2013 (1312009) PH028