The Blood Virus Vaccine: Hepatitis B Vaccination in Streatham
Hepatitis B is a virus that spreads by having direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. The infection is of the liver and Westbury Chemist in Streatham offers vaccinations against Hepatitis B, keeping you protected.
Our travel clinic appointments are from 10:00 am – 17:00 pm Monday to Saturday
Book Hepatitis B Vaccinations Online
Why take the Hep B vaccine?
It’s important to ensure that you have the hepatitis B vaccine, the virus goes undetected as it is rare to see any symptoms from it. The virus is a major cause of life-threatening diseases such as serious liver disease, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer.
What is Hepatitis B?
Globally, 296 million people live with long-term infection of hepatitis B, according to WHO. A staggering 820,000 people died from the infection due to the high number of infections. But what is it and how is it so dangerous?
Viral hepatitis B is an infection that affects the liver and can have short or long-term effects. Most experts understand that hepatitis B can be transmitted by a mother’s relationship with her child during birth. Additionally, Hep B can be transmitted through the contact of blood and other fluids from an infected individual during sex or by unsafe infections (drugs and tattoos).
Your local travel clinic can give you the hepatitis B vaccine, which is the most effective way to prevent infections. It is 98% to 100% effective. The vaccine is available from Westbury Chemist so that you can protect yourself from this infection.
High-Risk Countries for Hep B
There is no geographical restriction on where Hepatitis B can be found. However, there are some regions that are more at risk than others:
| Sub-Saharan Africa | East and Southeast Asia | Pacific Islands | Parts of South America |
| Southern parts of eastern and central Europe | Middle East | Indian Subcontinent |
In the UK hepatitis B shows new cases from those who have travelled to the above destinations and have bought it back to the UK.
Symptoms of Hep B
It is uncommon for people who have hepatitis B to show any signs or symptoms. Even if symptoms were to develop, they’d usually take 2-3 months after being exposed to the Hep B virus.
Most adults typically go on without showing any signs of being infected, the body fights off the infection without you even realising it. However, this does not mean that the virus cannot be spread to other people.
Symptoms usually last around 1-3 months in adults before they pass. Occasionally, infections can last for 6 months.
- Tummy pain
- Tiredness
- Body aches and pains
- High temperature
- The feeling of being sick
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
What are the side effects of the hepatitis B vaccine?
Generally, the vaccine is very safe, there are no common identifiable side effects other than the soreness and redness of where the injection takes place.
Some vaccines that are injected into our bodies are activated which means they are very small samples of the virus, it allows our bodies to develop immunity against them. However, hepatitis B is an inactivated vaccine so it does not cause the injection itself.
Visiting Westbury Chemist for your hepatitis B vaccination in Streatham
Westbury Chemist Streatham is now providing NHS hep B jabs. We do not accept walk-in appointments. Please book your appointments online.
Directions to Westbury Chemist Hepatitis B clinic
Hepatitis B vaccine when pregnant
The NHS report that an infection during pregnancy can result in severe disease for the mother and short-term infections for the baby.
The vaccination is highly recommended for pregnant women who are categorised as high-risk. It is worth consulting your doctor in regards to the vaccinations beforehand.
It’s perfectly safe for a pregnant woman to have the vaccination during the pregnancy or soon after delivery. You are also able to take the vaccination whilst breastfeeding as there have been no signs of harmfulness.
