A vaccine that offers protection against hepatitis B is available for all babies born in Northern Ireland on or after August 1 2017. It is also available for people at high risk of the infection or complications from it.
This includes:
- babies born to hepatitis B-infected mothers
- close family and sexual partners of someone with hepatitis B
- people travelling to a part of the world where hepatitis B is widespread, such as sub-Saharan Africa, east and southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands
- families adopting or fostering children from high-risk countries
- people who inject drugs or have a sexual partner who injects drugs
- people who change sexual partners very often
- men who have sex with men
- male and female sex workers
- people who work somewhere that places them at risk of contact with blood or body fluids
- people with chronic liver disease
- people with chronic kidney disease
- people receiving regular blood or blood products, and their carers
The hepatitis B vaccine is given to infants as part of the childhood immunisation programme and to those who are at high risk of developing the infection.
You do not need to pay for the vaccine if your child is eligible to receive it or if born to a hepatitis B-infected mother. Others may have to pay.
Requests by Employer or University/College
Under Health and Safety Regulations, your employer or University/College has a duty to provide a safe working environment, and should provide this vaccination.
GPs are not obliged to provide the hepatitis B vaccine on the NHS if you’re not thought to be at risk.
We advise you to contact your employer or University/College and refer them to this page on our website. They will be able to make arrangements with an occupational health provider for the provision of any immunisation which you may require following an appropriate assessment.