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Vaccinations against hepatitis are obligatory in Poland. They should be given primarily to children within 24 hours of birth, medical college students, and people who have never been vaccinated against viral hepatitis. Find out who else should get hepatitis and why the jaundice vaccine is so important.

The jaundice vaccinationis one of those vaccinations that adults think about much less often than flu vaccination. It is worth knowing, however, that there are not one, but three types of vaccination against hepatitis - vaccination against hepatitis A, vaccination against hepatitis B and vaccination against hepatitis C.

Who should use them, which of these vaccines are free and what are the contraindications for jaundice vaccination?

Vaccination against hepatitis A

The hepatitis A vaccine is administered intramuscularly to immunize against the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Thanks to the preparation, within 4 weeks our body produces antibodies that protect us against hepatitis A infection for over 20 years. Usually 2 doses of the vaccine are given 6-12 months apart

Who should get vaccinated against hepatitis A?

  • children attending kindergarten and primary school as well as adolescents who did not suffer from hepatitis A,
  • people going to countries with high rates of hepatitis A,
  • people employed in the production and distribution of food,
  • people who work on the disposal of municipal waste,
  • he althcare professionals,
  • people at risk, i.e. homosexuals, people who undergo blood transfusions, drug addicts (when injecting drugs).

Vaccine against hepatitis A - contraindications

The vaccine should not be given to people who:

  • struggle with diseases manifested by high fever,
  • are allergic to any ingredient of the preparation.

The hepatitis A vaccine should not be administered to pregnant women as it is not known how the vaccine affects the development of the fetus.

The vaccine against hepatitis A belongs to the recommended vaccines, intherefore it is payable. The price of one dose is around PLN 160 (for adults) or around PLN 130 (for children).

Vaccination against hepatitis B

The hepatitis B vaccineconsists of an artificially produced HBs protein and is the primary vaccine for newborns and infants. The preparation is administered to the child in 3 doses during the first year of the child's life, i.e.

  • within the first 24 hours after birth (1st dose),
  • in the 2nd month of life (2nd dose),
  • in the 7th month of life (3rd dose).

Who is compulsory vaccinations against hepatitis B?

According to the ordinance of the minister of he alth, vaccination against hepatitis B is also obligatory for people who are particularly vulnerable to infection:

  • he althcare workers and students of medical universities who have not been vaccinated against hepatitis B,
  • people who have contact with an infected person in their everyday life and who have not been previously vaccinated against hepatitis B,
  • people in prisons or care facilities,
  • people infected with hepatitis C.

When will we pay for the hepatitis B vaccine?

The vaccine against hepatitis B is not reimbursed by the National He alth Fund if it is intended for

  • children, adolescents and the chronically ill who have not benefited from compulsory vaccinations,
  • people prepared for surgery,
  • elderly people.

The price of one dose of hepatitis B vaccine is PLN 70 (for adults and children). You can also use a combined vaccine against hepatitis A and B, which costs PLN 160.

Contraindications for vaccination against hepatitis B

  • hypersensitivity to the preparation ingredients (e.g. yeast proteins),
  • an illness with symptoms such as fever or low-grade fever.
Important

The vaccine against hepatitis B, along with the flu, rabies and tetanus vaccines, is safe for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Therefore, there is no obstacle for you to start protecting yourself and your child in a blessed state. The hepatitis B vaccine is especially recommended for women who have been diagnosed with high-risk pregnancy and suspect that its termination will be a result of caesarean section.

Vaccination against hepatitis C

Hepatitis C develops slowly and often asymptomatically. Therefore, for many years we may not be aware that the virus is destroying our liver. What worse,we may also not know that we infect people close to us, e.g. through sexual contact. The HCV virus that causes this disease is even more dangerous than HIV, so the risk of infection is much greater. To find out if we are sick, we should perform a free serological test for HCV. Specialized tests are also offered by medical laboratories in which the level of anti-HCV antibodies is tested. The price of such a medical service is PLN 40.

Prevention

Unfortunately, no vaccine has yet been developed to prevent HCV infection. In order to protect yourself from it, you should, inter alia, check the sterility of tools and equipment used in he alth care facilities or hairdressing salons.

Hepatitis C treatment

The disease is treated with interferon (a natural protein produced by the body to fight viruses) and ribavirin, a medicine that stops the reproduction of viruses. The therapy lasts from 24 to 48 weeks. It manages to heal from 50 to 90 percent. patients.

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