What Are The Chances Of Developing Hepatitis-B Infection Despite Vaccination?

Posted on Fri, 22 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 Answered on

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello I am a 32 year old female. I have been married for 10 years and have 3 children. Recently my husband had some blood work done and found out he is positive for hepatitis B. I was not born in the U.S but my mother brought me when I was 8 months old. According to her I got vaccinated for hepatitis B as a child. My husband was not born in the U.S. My question to you Doctor is can I get this virus if I already was vaccinated as a baby?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Risk is negligible

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCM.

Firstly, Hepatitis B vaccination is safe and efficient so it should prevent infection for lifetime, but you need to be sure that you are vaccinated.

Rarely,in some people vaccination may not lead to sufficient production of a antibodies so infection may be possible.

But in your case if you weren't protected by vaccine you would already develop symptoms of Hepatitis after 10.years of marriage.

If you have any doubts you can do test but I don't think this is necessary.

Wish you good health.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee