Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection affecting the liver, spread primarily through contact with bodily fluids. Immunisation is the best way to reduce your risk.
A hepatitis B vaccination can help reduce your chances of becoming infected. In Australia, it is part of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and is also generally recommended for those who are travelling to countries where the disease is endemic.
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free hepatitis B vaccinations to the following eligible Medicare card holders in pharmacy:
People aged up to 20 years who did not receive hepatitis B as part of their childhood vaccinations
Refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age who did not receive this vaccination in childhood
Book NIP hepatitis B vaccination
For more information on the NIP and patient eligibility please seek advice from your local MediADVICE Pharmacist who can advise on state specific legislation.
Your hepatitis B vaccination questions answered
Who is recommended the vaccination?
The vaccination is recommended for people who are at higher risk of infection and who are not immune to hepatitis B — this includes:
people who live with someone who has hepatitis B
sexual partners of people who have hepatitis B
people who attend sexual health services
men who have sex with men
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
people with kidney disease who need dialysis
people who are about to have an organ transplant
people who have recently had a stem cell transplant
people living with chronic liver disease or hepatitis C
people who inject drugs
people who need blood transfusions or blood products
people with a developmental disability who go to day-care facilities
inmates and staff in prisons, detention centres and similar facilities
sex workers
anyone whose work may involve blood or body fluids (e.g. healthcare workers, police, military personnel, funeral workers, tattooists and body piercers)
people who are travelling overseas to areas where hepatitis B is common
migrants from countries where hepatitis B is common, such as1 North-East Asia, South-East Asia, Mediterranean Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Pacific Islands, or Sub-Saharan Africa
If you haven’t been vaccinated against hepatitis B, or don’t know if you have, speak to your doctor.
How long does a hepatitis B vaccine last?
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for infants and children in a 4-dose schedule at birth, and 2, 4, and 6 months of age.
This usually provides lifelong protection. Healthy adults who didn’t receive hepatitis B vaccination in childhood, but receive three doses as an adult also have lifelong protection against hepatitis B.
Which circumstances increase their risk of acquiring hepatitis B?
Being vaccinated against hepatitis B is the best way to prevent it. In Australia, all children born after 2000 can be immunised against hepatitis B as part of the childhood immunisation schedule.
People whose circumstances increase their risk of acquiring hepatitis B, including:
infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B surface antigen–positive household
other close contacts of people with hepatitis B
sexual contacts of people with hepatitis B men who have sex with men migrants from hepatitis B–endemic countries
people who inject drugs inmates of correctional facilities sex industry workers
How MediADVICE can help
Our Pharmacies want to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care.
To ensure your pharmacy is in stock of the selected vaccination we recommend you call your local MediADVICE pharmacy to confirm stock availability or schedule your appointment 48 hours from the time of booking.
Find your nearest store
Learn more about hepatitis B
Hepatitis is the inflammation (swelling) of the liver. Several things can cause hepatitis including heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and medical conditions. However, hepatitis is usually caused by a virus.
Disclaimers
General advice only – this information should not replace the information provided to you by your health care professional. If symptoms are severe or persist, please speak to your health care professional. Information current as of date of publishing.
*In NSW the following criteria applies to receive a funded vaccines under NSW Health (administration fee will still apply)
As recommended by the Australian Immunisation Handbook, hepatitis B vaccination is recommended and free for:
Aboriginal people
Household and sexual contacts of acute and chronic hepatitis B cases
Immunosuppressed people
People with HIV or hepatitis C
Men who have sex with men
Injecting drug users
Sex workers
Clients of sexual health clinics (at LHD discretion)
Hepatitis B vaccine is not free for persons outside of these priority populations, healthcare students or persons travelling overseas