Hepatitis B vaccine

All LloydsPharmacy staff who provide this service are trained to manage anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine. Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include fainting, shortness of breath, falling blood pressure and swelling of the face and neck. Anaphylaxis is extremely rare after receiving the injection.

The vaccine consists of three separate injections given on three separate occasions (at zero, one month and six months).

The vaccine stimulates the body's immune system to fight a possible hepatitis B infection without causing the disease itself. It cannot protect you from hepatitis B if you are already infected. It also cannot protect you against any other type of liver infection, or other types of hepatitis.

Hepatitis B is a highly infectious virus that can cause flu-like symptoms, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), tummy pain, diarrhoea, feeling and being sick, and a loss of appetite. 

It's spread through blood and bodily fluids and treatment depends on how long you have had the virus for. This is why healthcare workers and other at-risk groups, e.g. prison staff, police, those who travel a lot to high-risk areas, are all advised to get protected. The best way to protect against hepatitis B is to get a vaccination., and stay up-to-date with vaccines.