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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
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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Hepatitis B vaccine to be restricted in UK owing to global shortage | Hepatitis B vaccine to be restricted in UK owing to global shortage |
| (1 day later) | |
| Public Health England applies emergency measures to protect those at highest risk after manufacturing problems hit supply | |
| Nicola Slawson | |
| Mon 7 Aug 2017 19.08 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 18.50 GMT | |
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| Public Health England has announced emergency measures because of a global shortage of the hepatitis B vaccine. | Public Health England has announced emergency measures because of a global shortage of the hepatitis B vaccine. |
| The “prioritisation guidance” has been put in place to protect those at highest immediate risk from the shortage, which has been caused by problems in the manufacturing process. | The “prioritisation guidance” has been put in place to protect those at highest immediate risk from the shortage, which has been caused by problems in the manufacturing process. |
| The measures, which mean that only the most vulnerable will receive the vaccine while others will have to wait, are expected to continue until 2018. | The measures, which mean that only the most vulnerable 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. |
| 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. | 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 intravenous drug users. It is also recommended for anyone undertaking 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 the 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. |
| A PHE spokeswoman 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. | A PHE spokeswoman 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. | “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 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. | 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. |
| The spokeswoman 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.” | The spokeswoman 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.” |
| Hepatitis B | |
| NHS | |
| Health | |
| news | |
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