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Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is the cause of Hepatitis B, a degenerative liver disease. This infection can affect people of all ages and is generally transmitted through the exchange of blood and other bodily fluids (mainly through unprotected sex, contaminated needles, blood transfusions etc). HBV can also be transmitted from mother to child through vertical transmission. Hepatitis B damages the liver tissue leading to eventual shutting down of the organ. What makes the disease serious is the high probability of it resulting in either liver cancer which does not respond well to chemotherapy and leads to death. The widespread nature of the HBV can be understood by seeing the number of people infected with this disease. In the United States of America alone 200,000 people report infection and about 10% of these will remain chronically infected and be at risk of transmitting the disease. Unfortunately there is no definite cure for this condition. This leaves only prevention as a way of handling the virus. The best way of protection from the HBV is the Hepatitis B Vaccination. The Hepatitis B vaccination has been available for use since 1982. The original Hepatitis B vaccination was made using plasma from patients infected
with HBV. The vaccine that is currently used does not use any live virus or plasma. Instead, a technology involving recombinant DNA is used in making the Hepatitis B vaccination. It also uses HBV proteins, which are generally surface proteins and antigens of the HBV. The Hepatitis B vaccination is usually administered in 3 doses. The time period for these shots is usually at 0, 3 and 6 months, though these could vary. Babies born to mothers who are HBV positive should be administered the Hepatitis B vaccination within the first 48 hours after birth. After the 3 doses of the vaccine is taken, it is recommended to have a blood test after a few months to check if the antibody level is satisfactory. The preferable antibody level is 100mlU/ml. Any thing between 10 and 100mlU/ml is unsatisfactory and requires a single booster shot. The Hepatitis B vaccination has been seen to be effective for as long as 25 years and thus, a one time dose is adequate to protect against the virus, although smoking, obesity and increased age can be deterrents in reacting effectively to the vaccine. The Hepatitis B vaccination doses may also need to be increased for patients with compromised immune systems and those on renal dialysis. Since the HBV can damage the liver and eventually lead to liver cancer, the Hepatitis B vaccination in effect prevents against cancer. Thus the Hepatitis B vaccination has been considered the first vaccine against cancer. Hepatitis B Vaccinations have become part of vaccination schedules for infants around the world and almost all countries are administering these vaccinations to new born babies. It is also becoming mandatory for adolescents and adults if they have not been vaccinated against HBV earlier. Childhood Vaccination
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