Brand Name
Engerix-B
Common Name
hepatitis B vaccine
In this drug factsheet:
DIN (Drug Identification Number)| 01919431 | ENGERIX B 20µG/ML INJ SUS |
How does this medication work? What will it do for me?
Hepatitis B vaccine prevents infection by hepatitis
B by allowing your body to produce its own protection (antibodies)
against the disease. Hepatitis B virus is a major cause of serious liver
diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis,
and liver cancer. Hepatitis B vaccine
is recommended for persons of all ages, especially those at increased risk of
infection with hepatitis B virus. These include:
- infants born to mothers with hepatitis B
- children less than 7 years of age whose families have moved to Canada from
high-risk areas and were exposed to hepatitis B carriers
- children in child-care settings in which there is a hepatitis B virus-infected
child
- adolescents
- health care personnel
- emergency service workers (police, firefighters)
- patients and patient contacts in certain hospital clinics (e.g., dialysis,
cancer) or psychiatric institutions
- people requiring frequent or large-volume blood transfusions or other blood
products
- people traveling to high-risk areas
- military personnel
- morticians and embalmers
- blood bank workers
- people who engage in high-risk sexual activity
- prisoners
- users of illicit injectable drugs
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than the
ones listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this
with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to
your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
How should I use this medication?
A qualified health professional will inject the hepatitis B vaccine. The
dose varies according to age and dosing schedule. The dose of hepatitis
B vaccine is injected into a muscle (preferably the upper, outer arm for adults
and the thigh for infants and children) with three doses that are at least one
month apart. Injection at 0, 1, and 6 months is a common dosing schedule. A
two-dose regimen is available for adolescents (11 to 15 years of age) where
the second dose is given four to six months after the first.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as
body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. Other dosing schedules
are sometimes used. It is very important to keep doctor appointments so that
this medication may be used according to recommended schedules.
Refrigerate the vaccine until it is used. The vaccine must not freeze or it
will have to be discarded.
Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
What form(s) does this medication come in?
0.5 mL
Each 0.5 mL single pediatric dose vial contains hepatitis B surface antigen 10 µg adsorbed onto AI+++0.25 mg as aluminum hydroxide. Also contains trace amount of thimerosal (<0.5 µg mercury).
1 mL
Each 1 mL single adolescent/adult dose vial contains hepatitis B surface antigen 20 µg adsorbed onto AI+++0.5 mg as aluminum hydroxide. Also contains trace amount of thimerosal (<1.0 µg mercury).
5 mL
Each 5 mL multidose vial for mass immunization programs contains hepatitis B surface antigen 100 µg adsorbed onto Al+++5 mg as aluminum hydroxide. Also contains 5.0 mg/mL of 2-phenoxyethanol as preservative.
10 mL
Each 10 mL multidose vial for mass immunization programs contains hepatitis B surface antigen 200 µg adsorbed onto Al+++5 mg as aluminum hydroxide. Also contains 5.0 mg/mL of 2-phenoxyethanol as preservative.
The vaccine is a slightly opaque, white, sterile suspension. A slow settling of the white aluminum hydroxide may occur during storage leaving a clear, colourless, supernatant liquid.
The monodose container does not contain a preservative. The entire contents of a monodose container must be withdrawn and should be used immediately upon withdrawal. For multidose vaccine, discard unused portion no longer than 24 hours after first puncture.
Some medications may have other generic brands available. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of switching between brands of the same medication.
Who should NOT take this medication?
Hepatitis B vaccine should not be used by anyone with a sensitivity or allergy
to any component of the vaccine.
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