The Hepatitis B Vaccine

The Hepatitis B vaccine can help prevent Hepatitis B. There are a number of different types of hepatitis vaccines available which also prevents Hepatitis A. Depending on your personal medical history and where you are going, our travel health care providers will advise which vaccination is recommended for your trip. Contact us at (416) 461-2419 today or click to book online: www.travelvaccineclinic.fullslate.com

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that infects the liver. It is one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases affecting travelers and can cause either acute or chronic infection. To prevent this, we provide hepatitis B vaccine for travelers in Toronto, Ontario.

About 90 to 95 percent of adults with acute hepatitis B infection will clear the virus on their own within six months, and develop lifelong protection against it.

What is my risk?

Your risk depends of several factors: destination, length of stay, what you do when you are traveling and whether you have direct contact with blood or other body fluids. In certain destinations, your risk may be higher, as some areas have higher numbers of people with chronic hepatitis B in the general population.

The risk increases with certain activities, such as unprotected sex, sharing needles, tattooing and acupuncture.

Aid and health care workers and anyone who receives medical or dental care with unsterilized or contaminated equipment in a country where hepatitis B occurs are also at greater risk.

How is it transmitted?

Hepatitis B is highly infectious, and is spread from one person to another through exposure to infected blood and body fluids (including semen and vaginal fluid). It can be spread through:

blood transfusions or organ transplantation in countries where blood or blood products have not been properly screened for hepatitis B and other viruses transmitted through blood
unprotected sex with an infected person
sharing needles or equipment for injecting drugs
unsterilized medical/dental equipment and shared/contaminated materials or equipment used for tattooing, body piercing or acupuncture
sharing toothbrushes or razors
childbirth (an infected mother to her infant)
household contact between family members

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can take two to six months to appear.
Many people who are infected with hepatitis B have either no symptoms or only mild symptoms.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis B can include fatigue, loss of appetite, joint pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and dark urine. A small number of people will develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Some people develop chronic hepatitis B and most remain contagious for the rest of their lives. Chronic infection may lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and/or liver cancer. Most people with chronic hepatitis B are unaware of their infection.

What is the treatment?

There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B. Most adults completely recover from the infection by getting lots of rest, proper nutrition and fluids.
Antiviral drugs can be used to treat some chronic cases of hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis b vaccination is recommended as a preventive measure.

Where is hepatitis B a concern?

Hepatitis B occurs worldwide.

Regions with higher numbers of people with chronic hepatitis B in the general population include parts of Southern and Eastern Europe, South and Central America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

A map of countries and areas of risk for hepatitis B is available on the World Health Organization (WHO) website.

Recommendations

Book y

our appointment to Consult with our health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel.

Get vaccinated with hepatitis b vaccine if you are at risk but are not immunized (either through previous vaccination or previous hepatitis B infection). Those at risk include:

Travelers who visit or stay in areas of risk for an extended period of time.
Travelers who engage in risk activities such as unprotected sex, tattooing and acupuncture, or sharing needles and other equipment for drug use.
Travelers who work in a health care setting.

Protect yourself:

Avoid dental, medical or cosmetic procedures that penetrate the skin (for example, transfusions, acupuncture, piercing and tattooing) unless you are certain that the needles, materials and equipment are sterile.
Always practice safer sex (use condoms/dental dams).
Do not share personal items such as toothbrushes and razors.
Never share needles or syringes.

It is not always possible to protect yourself against accidents and the possibility that you may need urgent health care (medical or dental) while traveling. In developing countries, urgent medical care may increase your risk of becoming infected with hepatitis B and other infections transmitted by blood. If you receive medical care while in another country, it is important to follow up with your health care provider when you return to Canada, and to inform them of the care you received abroad.

Book an appointment at our clinic for Hepatitis B vaccine for travel in Ontario