Medical Health Encyclopedia

A small percentage of people do not develop immunity even after a vaccine has been given repeatedly. A more potent vaccine is proving to be effective for these people; it loses its effect after five years in about a third of those who receive it.

Side Effects of Hepatitis B Vaccine

Soreness. Soreness at the injection site is the most common side effect.

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Nerve Inflammation. There have been some reports of nerve inflammation after vaccinations for hepatitis B, and there has been some concern about three small studies associating the vaccine with a nonsignificant increase in multiple sclerosis. A 2001 study of 121,700 nurses reported no association between the vaccine and a risk for multiple sclerosis, and an earlier report on 260,000 Canadian adolescents also found no higher incidence. Because of even a small theoretical risk of nerve damage in infants, some groups oppose the vaccination in children who are not in high-risk groups. It should be strongly stressed that worldwide, 65 million people with chronic hepatitis are expected to die from liver disease and vaccinations are saving lives. For example, in Taiwan, where infection rates are high and infants are at risk for hepatitis B from infected mothers, vaccination programs have significantly reduced the risk for liver cancer. [For more information see In-Depth Report #59: Hepatitis.]