• Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver. The virus is found in body fluids including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and saliva of persons who are infected.

(See more information below.)

• Hepatitis B is spread:
• by sharing razors, tattooing, ear-piercing, acupuncture equipment, or by sharing needles and other equipment to inject drugs;
• through unprotected sex;
• through exposure to the blood or body fluids of infected people;
• from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth.
  

• About 50% of adults and 90% of children who are infected with hepatitis B do not have symptoms.
• Others can have:
• tiredness;
• loss of appetite;
• nausea and vomiting;
• pain in the upper abdomen (stomach area);
• fever (usually mild);
• jaundice (skin or whites of eyes are yellow);
• dark-colored urine;
• light-colored stools.
• These symptoms can last up to 3 months after infection.
• Most people who get infected recover and are immune for life.
• Some people who are infected cannot get rid of the virus and carry it in their blood and body fluids for life. These people are called chronic carriers.
• People who have hepatitis B and those who are chronic carriers can spread the virus to others.
• Chronic infection can lead to liver damage or liver cancer.
• Treatment does not provide a cure.
  

• Avoid high-risk behaviours such as sharing needles, razors, and tattoo or ear-piercing equipment and having unprotected sex.
• Get immunized with hepatitis B vaccine.
• The vaccine may be given in either a 2 dose or 3 dose series of injections over a 6-month period. It is necessary to complete the series to ensure long-term protection.
  

• Hepatitis B vaccine is very effective, but antibody response decreases with age.
• Some illnesses such as diabetes, chronic liver disease or HIV can lower the antibody response.
  

• All children in grade 6.
• Infants born to infected mothers.
• Infants born to mothers at high risk for hepatitis B infection (e.g., injection drug users) whose infectious status is not known at time of delivery.
• Children who started a series in another jurisdiction and/or children under 7 years of age whose families have immigrated to Canada from regions of high hepatitis B prevalence.
• Hepatitis B non-immune household contacts (including those in childcare settings) and sexual contacts of an infected person.
• People with lifestyle risk factors (e.g., injection drug users, those with multiple sex partners).
• Sexual and household contacts of injection drug users.
• Those who are infected with hepatitis C and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Hemophiliacs, persons with chronic renal disease, prior to or on dialysis, and persons with chronic liver disease.
• Sexual assault victims.
• Those who have been exposed to potentially infectious blood and body fluid, including needlesticks.
• Transplant recipients (bone marrow, solid organs, stem cell).
  

• Individuals who have had an anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine.
• Individuals who have had an anaphylactic reaction to any component of the vaccine.
• Individuals who have a moderate to severe illness, with or without a fever.
  

• Reported side effects are usually mild and do not last long.
• The most common reactions that have been reported are soreness at the site of injection and a mild fever.
  

• Report any adverse or unexpected reactions to your local public health nurse or your doctor as soon as possible.
• Talk to your public health nurse if:
• you have questions or concerns about your reaction or your child's reaction to immunization.
• you or your child had to go to your doctor, hospital, or health center with an illness that might be related to immunization.

Your immunization information will be recorded in a computerized system known as the Saskatchewan Immunization Management System (SIMS). Information collected in SIMS may be used to:

• manage immunization records,
• notify you if you or your child needs an immunization,
• and monitor how well vaccines work in preventing vaccine preventable diseases.

Your immunization records may also be shared with health care professionals in order to provide public health services; assist with diagnosis and treatment; and to control the spread of vaccine preventable diseases.