I wonder if we should expect the hepatitis vaccine to be added to the UK schedule.....

[bumbleymummy]

Here

Simple answer = yes, it will be added at some point. I'm surprised it isn't there already.

I would hope so.

Why doesn't that surprise me DB :) of course we should vaccinate all children against hepatitis just in case they grow up to be drug users...

I don't think it will any time soon.

It's already given selectively to babies at risk but I can't see it being added to the routine schedule imminently.

Before someone jumps on me I know that needles aren't the only way to contract hepatitis!

Wouldn't it make more sense to screen mothers for HepB & immunise selectively?

The article talks at length about dangers of HepC (generally considered the worst and most dangerous strain, my drug user brother has lived with it and a plethora of other health problems for last 20 yrs) but omits the fact that there's no vaccine for HepC. HepB is the only one they can vaccinate for.

oops, sorry, didn't read Sidge's note about selective vacc already happening.

@ragged

My understanding is that there is also a vaccine against Hep. A.

That's good to hear. Detailed discussion about why so hard to develop a vaccine for HepC (which is supposed to be the very dangerous one, but then like I said, even people already in very bad health sometimes manage to live with HepC for decades).

We give Hep A primarily for travel health, and to certain occupational groups eg sewage/water plant workers, people working with hazardous waste etc.

Hep B is given for travel purposes as well as to those with occupational risk (the above plus health workers, dentists, etc) and those at social risk ie partners of IV drug users, sex workers, babies born to mums at risk of Hep B.