Hepatitis B vaccine for infants

Babies can have no obvious symptoms after acquiring Hepatitis B, yet infection early in life can persist. Vaccination trains the immune system before a possible exposure and is given according to an infant schedule set by the child’s healthcare team. A sore injection site, fussiness, sleepiness, or a brief temperature rise may happen afterward. These reactions do not mean the vaccine gave the baby hepatitis B.

Keep the baby comfortable, offer feeds as usual, and monitor behaviour and temperature. Follow the clinician’s instructions about any medicine; never use an adult product or guess a dose. Keep the vaccination card safe and bring it to every clinic visit so missed or delayed doses can be planned correctly. Tell the vaccinator about a previous serious reaction, a significant illness, or medicines the baby is taking. See Hepatitis B Vaccination for broader schedule information.

Call emergency services for difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips or face, collapse, a seizure, or a baby who cannot be woken normally. Contact the child’s clinician if fever is concerning for the baby’s age, continues, or comes with poor feeding, repeated vomiting, fewer wet nappies, unusual limpness, or a widespread rash. Do not wait for dark urine or fatigue before seeking help if the baby seems acutely unwell.

Ask when the next dose is due, which reactions are expected, and what temperature or behaviour should prompt a call. Confirm how to replace a lost vaccination card and whom to contact outside clinic hours.