Hepatitis B is a serious infection that affects the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus. Each year 2,000 to 4,000 people die in the US from cirrhosis or liver cancer caused by Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B virus is easily spread through contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected person. People can also be infected from contact with a contaminated object, where the virus can live for up to 7 days.
Children are routinely vaccinated for Hepatitis B. All unvaccinated adults at risk should also be vaccinated. These include people with chronic liver or kidney disease, people under 60 with diabetes, people with HIV infection, people with jobs that expose them to human blood or other body fluids, people who inject street drugs, sex partners of people with Hepatitis B, people with more than one sex partner, and people who travel to countries where Hepatitis B is common.
Adults receive 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine with a second dose given 4 weeks after the first and the third dose 5 months after the second.
Contact us by phone, send us a note, or come by the store for more information on Hepatitis B vaccine. Our professional staff is ready to help you.
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