Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent

Hepatitis B is a serious illness caused by a virus. It causes swelling of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.

The Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent is used to help prevent this illness in children and teenagers.

The vaccine helps your child's body build immunity to hepatitis B, but it will not treat an active infection that the child already has.

Vaccination with Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent is recommended for all children starting at birth, especially for children and teenagers who are at risk of getting hepatitis B. Risk factors include: living with someone who has the hepatitis B virus; being born to a mother who has hepatitis B; being on dialysis; living in a facility for developmentally disabled people; traveling to areas where hepatitis B is common; being a teenager who has never received this medicine during childhood.

Like any vaccine, the Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent may not protect every person from the disease.

Tell your child's doctor if your child uses other medicines, has other medical conditions, or has allergies.

Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent will not protect against infection with hepatitis A, C, and E, or other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect against hepatitis B if your child is already infected with the virus, even if they do not yet show symptoms.

Your child should not receive this vaccine if they have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing hepatitis B. Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent should not be given to a child who is allergic to yeast.

If your child has any of these other conditions, this vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:

• kidney disease (or if the child is on dialysis);
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy bruising;
• an allergy to latex rubber; or
• a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine).

Your child can still receive a vaccine if they have a minor cold. If the child has a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, your child's doctor may recommend waiting until they get better before receiving this vaccine.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Get emergency medical help if your child shows signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Your child may feel faint after receiving this vaccine. Some people have had seizure-like reactions after receiving this vaccine. The doctor may want your child to stay under observation for a short time after the injection.

Keep track of any and all side effects your child experiences after receiving this vaccine. When your child receives a booster dose, you will need to inform the doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Call the doctor immediately if your child has:

• breathing that stops during sleep;
• fever, chills, swollen glands;
• fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer;
• unusual muscle weakness;
• changes in behavior; or
• severe skin reaction—fever, sore throat, swelling in the face or tongue, burning in the eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects of Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent may include:

• diarrhea, loss of appetite;
• feeling weak or tired;
• mild fussiness or crying;
• low fever; or
• runny nose.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call the doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

The vaccine is injected into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.

The Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent is given in a series of shots beginning shortly after birth. The booster shots are sometimes given 1 to 2 months and 6 to 18 months after the first shot. If your child does not receive a birth dose, the vaccine series should begin as early as possible.

Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow the doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

Contact the doctor if your child misses a booster dose or if he or she gets behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

• Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. Your child may not be fully protected if he or she does not receive the full series.

An overdose of this vaccine is not likely to happen.

Follow the doctor's instructions regarding any limits on food, drinks, or activities.

Before your child gets this vaccine, inform the doctor about all other vaccines your child has had recently.

Other drugs might interact with hepatitis B pediatric vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Make sure to tell each health care provider about all the medicines your child is currently using and any medicine your child begins or stops using.