Everything You Need to Know About Hepatitis B and Its Vaccines

• Hepatitis B: Get vaccinated to prevent it
• Detect early symptoms
• Consult your doctor

Hepatitis B is one of the most common—and at the same time most underestimated—viral infections in the world.

Although its name might sound distant to many, its effects can be devastating if not detected in time.

That’s why knowing how it’s transmitted, what its symptoms are, and, above all, how to prevent it with safe and effective vaccines, is essential for protecting our health and that of those around us.

Hepatitis B and Vaccination: What You Should Know to Protect Yourself

1. What Is Hepatitis B?

It’s a serious viral infection that attacks the liver. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through contact with blood or other bodily fluids from an infected person.

Although in some cases it’s temporary, it can turn into a chronic infection lasting a lifetime and cause cirrhosis or liver cancer.

2. Transmission: More Common Than You Think

Hepatitis B is not spread through hugging or sharing food. Infection occurs through:

• Contaminated blood
• Unprotected sexual relations
• Shared needles
• Mother to child during childbirth

For this reason, in many countries, vaccination of newborns is recommended.

3. Symptoms: The Silent Enemy

Many people don’t even know they’re infected. Sometimes there are no symptoms for years. When they do appear, they often include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine

That’s why it’s important to get tested if you’re at risk.

4. Forms of Hepatitis B: Acute and Chronic

Acute: short-term infection, the body can clear it on its own.

Chronic: lasts more than six months and can cause severe liver damage. Babies are at higher risk of it becoming chronic (up to 90% of those infected in infancy develop chronic hepatitis).

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5. The Key Role of Vaccines

The good news: hepatitis B is preventable. The HBV vaccine is:

Safe and effective

Recommended in childhood (it’s part of the childhood immunization schedule in many countries)

Also used in at-risk adults (healthcare workers, partners of people with hepatitis B, injection drug users)

Vaccination has dramatically reduced cases in children since its implementation.

6. How Effective Is the HBV Vaccine?

Very effective. After completing the full series of 3 doses (in most schedules), protection exceeds 95%.

It’s considered one of the safest vaccines with the greatest public health impact.

7. Treatments for Hepatitis B

There’s no definitive cure for the chronic form, but there are antiviral medications that help control the virus’s replication and prevent liver damage.

Regular medical follow-up is key to avoiding complications.

8. Who Should Get Vaccinated?

• All newborns
• Unvaccinated children and adolescents
• People at high risk (partners of infected individuals, healthcare workers)
• Travelers to regions with high prevalence

If you have doubts, talk to your doctor—prevention saves lives!

9. Diagnosis: Simple but Essential

A simple blood test can detect if you’re infected, if you’ve had the infection in the past, or if you’re protected.

Knowing your status helps you make informed decisions and protect your loved ones.

10. Conclusion: Information That Saves Lives

Hepatitis B is serious, but prevention is within everyone’s reach.

Getting vaccinated protects not only your health but also your community’s. Learn about it, share this information, and help stop this silent disease.

Protecting yourself against hepatitis B is one of the simplest and most effective health decisions we can make.

With clear information, access to vaccination, and the willingness to share these facts, we can reduce the risk of serious complications and help build healthier, more informed communities.

Because when we prevent together, we all win.

Did you already know how hepatitis B is transmitted, or were you surprised by any of these facts?

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / World Health Organization (WHO)