Prevention of Viral Hepatitis B Infection (Health Care Workers)
Viral Hepatitis B Infection is a common disease in Hong Kong. Symptoms include tiredness, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort followed by jaundice. Occasionally the liver may be severely affected and death may result. Asymtomatic infections are frequent and chronic liver disease is not an uncommon sequelae.
Hepatitis B may be contracted via contaminated syringes/needle puncture or mucosal exposure to infected blood or body fluids. Sexual contact is also a common mode of transmission. Due to the frequent contact with blood and syringes, health care workers are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.
Effective Prevention
Upon receiving the hepatitis B vaccine, the body acquires immunity against the disease. The vaccine is safe and no significant side effect has been reported.
Immunization Schedule
1. If the preliminary blood test shows that there is no immunity and the staff is not a carrier, a first injection of the vaccine should be given.
2. A second dose is given one month later.
3. A third dose is given 6 months after the first injection. In order to assess the response to and long-term efficacy of the vaccine, it would be necessary for the staff to have post-vaccination blood tests 1 to 4 months later. An adequate antibody level of antibody indicates protection; no booster injection will be necessary.
Service Targets
The in-service health care workers as well as new recruits to this service should receive the vaccine. Every effort should be made to complete the schedule.
Immunization Centre
For newly recruited or in-service health care workers of the Department of Health, vaccination is given at:
Integrated Treatment Centre
8/F., Kowloon Bay Health Centre,
9, Kai Yan Street, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon
If you want to know more information on Hepatitis, please dial :
Hepatitis Hotline
2112 9911
(24 hours enquiry on pre-recorded information)
Website: http://www.info.gov.hk/hepatitis
