Center for Disease Control
Hepatitis B Vaccine Fact Sheet |
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- 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.
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