Vaccine FAQ
Is there a vaccination for hepatitis B? Does it really work?
There is a vaccination for hepatitis B. It’s been available since 1982 and has been part of the vaccination schedule in Australia since 2000. Immunisation is recommended for infants and children at birth, and two, four and six months of age.1 Other specific groups should also be vaccinated. These include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- people who are immunocompromised
- people with medical risk factors
- people whose occupation increases their risk for getting hepatitis B
- travellers to hepatitis B-endemic areas who may be at increased risk
- people whose circumstances increase their risk of acquiring hepatitis.
The full course of hepatitis B vaccination is three injections over six months.
A recent test shows that I have low immunity to hep B. Do I need a booster?
If you have completed your course of vaccinations, then hepatitis B booster shots are generally not recommended even when antibody levels are low (or declined). This is because there is good evidence that that vaccination provides long-term protection.2
Key Concept:
Booster doses are recommended for people who are immune compromised (e.g. with HIV or renal failure).5
If you haven’t completed the whole course of vaccinations talk to your GP, who may recommend you get a booster.
Do I need to pay for the vaccination?
In Australia, the hepatitis B vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for babies within seven days of being born, and children aged two months, four months and six months.
Eligible people under 20 years old and refugees and other humanitarian entrants to the country can get a free catch-up vaccination.4
Vaccines that are not funded by the national program may be funded under state and territory government immunisation programs.
If you are required to be vaccinated as part of your employment conditions, your employer may pay for your vaccination.
Not all vaccines are funded. These include some travel and work vaccinations. Talk to your doctor about the costs involved for these vaccines.
Action:
Check the current immunisation schedule for the state or territory where you live to see if you’re eligible.
Family FAQ
My partner/housemate has hepatitis B. Can I get it?
Hepatitis B can only be transmitted if blood or sexual fluids of someone with the virus enters the bloodstream of someone without hepatitis B.
It cannot be transmitted by sharing food, toilet seats, mosquitoes, hugging, kissing, holding hands, or simply by being together in the same room. All partners and household members of people living with hepatitis B are recommended to get a hepatitis B vaccination.
Do I have to disclose my child’s hep B status at kindergarten/school?
There is no legal obligation to disclose a child’s status. It is up to the individual/parent to decide whether they want to disclose or not.
All childcare facilities are required to comply with Standard Infection Control Guidelines which assume all blood and other body fluids are infectious.
These guidelines protect staff and children by applying the same level of infection control for all people regardless of hepatitis or other blood borne virus status.
I have/one of my family members has hep B. Are my children safe?
Yes. Hepatitis B can only be transmitted if blood or sexual fluids of someone with the virus enters the bloodstream of someone without hepatitis B.
It cannot be transmitted by sharing food, toilet seats, mosquitoes, hugging, kissing, holding hands, or simply by being together in the same room.
Babies and children born in Australia from 2000 should have received the full course of vaccination. However, for peace of mind you can ask your GP to check their immunity.
I’ve just been diagnosed as having hepatitis B. How can I make sure that my family are protected?
Hepatitis B can only be transmitted if blood or sexual fluids of someone with the virus enters the bloodstream of someone without hepatitis B.
It cannot be transmitted by sharing food, toilet seats, mosquitoes, hugging, kissing, holding hands, or simply by being together in the same room. So there is very little chance of your family being affected. However for peace of mind household members should be vaccinated.
The vaccination is three injections over six months. Protection from the hepatitis B vaccination is likely to last for the rest of your life.
Transmission FAQ
How do they test for Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B Testing is done through taking a blood sample. It can take anywhere from four to 10 weeks from the time of initial exposure, for hepatitis B to be detectable in your blood tests.7
I’ve been told that I’m a healthy carrier of hepatitis B. What does that mean?
We know that the hepatitis B virus is always present, but it goes through different stages as the body recognises and reacts to the virus.
People only need treatment during certain stages, and liver damage is only occurring at certain stages.
The only way to know what stage you’re at, when you need treatment, or to monitor the health of your liver is through hepatitis B and liver health checks with a specialist.
It’s important for someone with chronic hepatitis B to be referred to a liver specialist for assessment and ongoing monitoring.
Key Concept:
The term ‘carrier’ used to be used to identify people with chronic hepatitis B. It was believed that if they had no symptoms or evidence of disease, they were ‘healthy carriers’ and had nothing to worry about.
This is not true. There is no such thing as a ‘healthy carrier’. It’s misleading term because it implies you don’t need to monitor your chronic hepatitis B. This is not the case.
I am concerned that I’ve been exposed to the hep B virus. How will I know if I’ve been infected? What sort of symptoms will I have?
Some people may experience flu-like symptoms, but many may not experience any symptoms at all. If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to the virus, the only way you can know for certain if you have hepatitis B is to get tested, if only for peace of mind.
I’ve had hepatitis B in the past. Can I catch it again?
If you contract hepatitis B as an adult you have a 90% chance of clearing the virus naturally.8 If you have had hepatitis B in the past and cleared it you cannot contract the virus again. You won’t need to be vaccinated as you have immunity. You also can’t pass the virus on to anyone else.
One unusual point about hepatitis B is that it can leave a partial copy of itself inside the cells of the liver even if the immune system has cleared/cured the virus. This doesn’t mean you have the virus or is causing liver damage, or that you can transmit it to others.
It does mean that if you contract HIV or start undergoing treatment with immunosuppressant’s for organ transplant or chemotherapy for cancer, you can be at risk of a hepatitis B flare up.9 In these circumstances you will be tested and monitored for your hepatitis B, and if necessary, treated.
Visa & Migration FAQ
Will I be refused a temporary visa due to my hepatitis B status?
Most applicants living with hepatitis B will not fail the health requirement when applying for a temporary visa to Australia due to their hepatitis B status and expected costs of treatment. As mentioned by the Department of Home Affairs, in some circumstances, there may be additional steps or requirements for temporary visa applicants living with hepatitis B who are planning to study or work as a healthcare worker, including as a doctor, nurse, dentist, or paramedic.
(See below section ‘I have hepatitis B and I am planning to study in Australia. Will this impact my visa application?’)
Will I be refused permanent residency due to my hepatitis B status?
Most applicants living with hepatitis B should not fail the health requirement when applying for permanent residency. This includes people living with hepatitis B that require treatment.
However, visa health requirements consider a wide range of health conditions as relevant to its assessment. This means that applicants living with hepatitis B who also have other health conditions, or whose hepatitis B requires complex management, may not meet the relevant health requirements.
Therefore, it is essential for applicants to obtain tailored advice from a registered migration agent or lawyer about what impact their hepatitis B and any other health conditions may have on their visa application. It is always important to discuss an appropriate plan/strategy for visa applications and pathways to permanent residency before applying for a visa.
