Hepatitis B Immunizations

Hepatitis B is a serious infection that causes inflammation of the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is spread through blood and other body fluids, usually through drug needles or sexual contact. It can also be passed to a baby whose mother is infected.

Short-term illness symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Muscle aches and pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Jaundice (yellowing) of the skin or eyes
• Dark urine

For those who develop the long-term hepatitis B infection, this can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer and even death.

ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers provide the Hepatitis B vaccine to protect against the hepatitis B infection. Babies usually get three doses of the vaccine before they are 18 months old. All adults over 18 years of age who didn’t get the vaccine as a child should get it. Also, adults who are at a high risk of contracting the infection should be vaccinated. This includes adults who:

• Are sexually active with more than three partners
• Use street drugs
• Are exposed to human blood or other body fluids on a daily basis
• Have chronic lung or kidney disease
• Are under 60 and have diabetes