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2. Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine (Engerix-B, Recombivax HB Adult, Recombivax HB Dialysis Formulation)?

Hepatitis B vaccine will not protect against infection with hepatitis A, C, and E, or other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect against hepatitis B if you are already infected with the virus, even if you do not yet show symptoms.

You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing hepatitis B, or if you are allergic to baker's yeast. You also should not receive this vaccine if you have received cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the past 3 months.

If you have any of these other conditions, your vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:

• multiple sclerosis;
• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy bruising;
• a history of seizures;
• a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
• an allergy to latex rubber;
• a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
• if you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this vaccine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while receiving the series of hepatitis B vaccines.

It is not known whether hepatitis B vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this vaccine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is this vaccine given (Engerix-B, Recombivax HB Adult, Recombivax HB Dialysis Formulation)?

The vaccine is injected into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.

The hepatitis B vaccine is given in a series of shots. The booster shots are sometimes given 1 month and 6 months after the first shot. If you have a high risk of hepatitis B infection, you may be given an additional booster 2 months after the first shot.

Your individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to take.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring if you have a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

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