This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/07/global-shortage-of-hepatitis-b-vaccine-declared

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Global shortage of hepatitis B vaccine declared Global shortage of hepatitis B vaccine declared
(35 minutes later)
A global shortage of the hepatitis B vaccine has been announced by Public Health England. Public Health England has announced a global shortage of the hepatitis B vaccine.
Emergency measures have been put in place to protect those at the “highest immediate risk” by the shortage, which has been caused by problems in the manufacturing process. Emergency measures have been put in place to protect those at highest immediate risk by the shortage, which has been caused by problems in the manufacturing process.
The measures, which mean only those at highest risk will receive the vaccine and others will have to wait, are expected to continue until 2018. The measures, which mean only those at highest risk will receive the vaccine while others will have to wait, are expected to continue until 2018.
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver, which is spread through contact with infected blood and body fluids.Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver, which is spread through contact with infected blood and body fluids.
While the risk of catching hepatitis B in the UK is very low, the vaccine is usually offered to individuals who are at specific risk of being exposed to body fluids from an infected person. The risk of catching hepatitis B in the UK is very low, but the vaccine is usually offered to individuals who are at specific risk of being exposed to body fluids from an infected person.
This includes babies born to mothers who are infected with hepatitis B, the sexual partners of infected individuals and a range of other groups such as men who have sex with men, healthcare workers, and people who inject drugs. It is also recommended for anyone undertaking certain activities such as getting a tattoo overseas. This includes babies born to mothers who are infected with hepatitis B, the sexual partners of infected individuals and a range of other groups such as men who have sex with men, healthcare workers and intravenous drug users. It is also recommended for anyone undertaking activities such as getting a tattoo overseas.
The recently announced addition of hepatitis B protection to the routine childhood immunisation programme at two, three and four months will go ahead as the combined vaccine is not affected by this shortage. The recently announced addition of hepatitis B protection to the routine childhood immunisation programme at two, three and four months will go ahead as the combined vaccine is not affected by the shortage.
Clare Cook, a spokeswoman for PHE, said: “The manufacturers are getting more stock in but there has been an issue for a while so that’s why we have put this prioritisation guidance into place. We know that the Hepatitis B vaccine takes a long time and is quite difficult to manufacture.Clare Cook, a spokeswoman for PHE, said: “The manufacturers are getting more stock in but there has been an issue for a while so that’s why we have put this prioritisation guidance into place. We know that the Hepatitis B vaccine takes a long time and is quite difficult to manufacture.
“We will make sure those who really need the vaccine will get it, and those who are less at risk should get it at a later date. It’s important to note that we are a very low risk country for hepatitis B, and the most at risk group are babies,” Cook said. “We will make sure those who really need the vaccine will get it, and those who are less at risk should get it at a later date. It’s important to note that we are a very low risk country for hepatitis B, and the most at risk group are babies,.
“The most common route of transmission is when a baby is born to a mother who has it but the paediatric vaccine is not affected by the shortage.”“The most common route of transmission is when a baby is born to a mother who has it but the paediatric vaccine is not affected by the shortage.”
Individuals can reduce their risk of contracting hepatitis B by taking care to avoid having unprotected sex, not inject drugs, or by not sharing needles when injecting, avoid having tattoos, piercing or acupuncture when overseas and avoid accessing medical or dental care in high prevalence countries. Individuals can reduce their risk of contracting hepatitis B by avoiding unprotected sex and injecting drugs, by not sharing needles when injecting, by avoiding having tattoos, piercings or acupuncture when overseas and by avoiding medical or dental care in high-prevalence countries.
Cook said: “We think there will be shortages until early 2018 so we are urging people to make sure they are taking the right precautions while the shortage is ongoing.”Cook said: “We think there will be shortages until early 2018 so we are urging people to make sure they are taking the right precautions while the shortage is ongoing.”