THE WAY TO PROTECT FROM HEPATITIS B: VACCINATION PLUS IMMUNE GLOBULIN IS A GOOD IDEA
If a person who has not been immunized has been exposed to one who is infectious with hepatitis B, the exposed person should receive the vaccination series as well as a dose of immune globulin specifically directed against hepatitis B. The vaccination itself, if given after exposure, offers some protection against acquiring the infection. Adding a shot of immune globulin improves the outcome. Immune globulin is a collection of antibodies that help to protect against infection on an acute basis; it provides a “boost” for the immune system, but only for a short time, so the vaccination series is given at the same time to offer long-term immunity as well.
Vaccination plus immune globulin is a good idea after sustaining a needle-stick injury, receiving a bite from someone who is a carrier of hepatitis B or newly infected with hepatitis B, or sexual exposure to a person who is either a carrier or newly infected. If a person has sex with an infected partner, this combination can be given within fourteen days after the contact, but it offers the most protection if given within forty-eight hours of exposure. If there is a significant exposure from a needle-stick injury or from an exposure on a mucosal surface (such as the eyes or mouth), then this combination should be given within twenty-four to forty-eight hours after the exposure. In both of these scenarios, the follow-up vaccinations must be given at one- and six-month intervals.
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