Hepatitis B Vaccine Fact Sheet – Centers For Disease Control

* Hepatitis B is a serious disease, responsible for an estimated 4000 to 5000 deaths each year in the United States due to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

* Hepatitis B vaccine prevents hepatitis B disease and its serious consequences. Therefore, this is the first anti-cancer vaccine.

* Use of hepatitis B vaccine and other vaccines is strongly endorsed by the medical, scientific and public health communities as a safe and effective way to prevent disease and death.

* Hepatitis B vaccines have been shown to be very safe when given to infants, children and adults.

* There is no confirmed evidence that indicates that hepatitis B vaccine can cause chronic illnesses.

* Case reports of unusual illnesses following vaccines are most often related to other causes and not related to a vaccine. Whenever large number of vaccines are given, some adverse events will occur coincidentally after vaccination and be falsely attributed to the vaccine.

* To assure a high standard of safety with vaccines, several federal agencies continually assess and research possible or potential health effects that could be associated with vaccines.

* Anyone believing they have had a possible reaction or adverse health effect from a vaccine should report it to their health care provider. The Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (1-800-822-7967) receives reports from health care providers and others about vaccine side effects.