Patients born before 1985 may not be vaccinated against hepatitis B
With the widespread availability of the hepatitis B vaccination, it is easy to assume a patient has already been vaccinated.
However, many adults born between before 1985 may not be protected against hepatitis B.
In Australia Hepatitis B vaccination was first included in the vaccination schedule for children in the year 2000. From 1997, hepatitis B vaccination was funded only for adolescents in high school and those considered at risk of infection with hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B vaccination is free for eligible patients under the National Immunisation Program
Hepatitis B vaccine is funded (free) for people who are considered to be at an increased risk.
People who are considered to be at increased risk of hepatitis B include:
household or other close (household-like) contacts of people with hepatitis B
sexual contacts of people with hepatitis B
people from countries with a high incidence of hepatitis B
Australian First Nations peoples
people with chronic liver disease and/or hepatitis C
people who inject drugs.
Sexual health and the health of our LGBTIQ communities
The Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC) and Metro North Public Health Unit have created simple health promotion messages around the importance of hepatitis B vaccination for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men:
Men who have sex with men may be at increased rips of hepatitis B.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis B and can provide lifelong immunity.
If you’re born before 1985 you may not have received hepatitis B vaccination.
More information for your patients
Whether it’s just a routine consultation, or a sexual health check, it’s timely to remind patients that vaccination can protect against some STIs and cancers.
|
Type of vaccination |
Helps protect against |
|---|---|
|
Hepatitis B |
Liver cancer |
|
Human papillomavirus |
Cervical cancer, anal cancer, some throat cancers and some penile cancers |
|
Mpox |
Can reduce the risk of becoming infected with mpox or suffering from severe mpox disease |
|
Meningococcal group B vaccine (Bexsero) |
More resources for primary health professionals
Access Brisbane South HealthPathways for hepatitis assessment and management support: