Vaccine

Vaccine

A vaccine is a biological preparation that develops immunity to a particular disease. Vaccines can be, prophylactic (example: to prevent or ameliorate the effects of a future infection by any natural or "wild" pathogen), or therapeutic (e.g. vaccines against cancer are also being investigated.

 Stanly A. Plotkin said,“The three greatest discoveries of medicine in the last 200 years are antisepsis, antibiotics and vaccines”

 Vaccines are of 3 types

1. Killed (inactivated) vaccine e.g. Hepatitis B vaccine,(VIRAL)

2. Live attenuated vaccine e .g. Bacillus Calmette guerin(BCG),(BACTERIAL)

3. Toxoids e.g. Triple antigen

 Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B vaccine is used against the infection caused by hepatitis B virus or HBV virus. Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus.

Brand Names of Hepatitis B Vaccines

Engerix-B (GSK)

 Recombivax HB (GSK)

 Elovac B (Human Biologicals Institute, A

 division of Indian Immunologicals

 Limited)

 Genevac B (Serum Institute)

 Shanvac B etc.

Hepatitis B Vaccine Doses

It takes only 3 shots to protect your selves against hepatitis B for a lifetime. In some cases, an accelerated two-dose series for adolescents is recommended. Theschedule is as given below:

¨  First Shot - At any given time

¨  Second Shot - At least one month after the first dose.

¨  Third Shot - Six months after the first dose.

DOSAGE FORMS ANENGERIX-B is a sterile suspension available in the following presentations:

0.5-mL (10 mcg) single-dose vials and prefilled syringes

1-mL (20 mcg) single-dose vials and prefilled syringes

HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE

¨  ENGERIX-B is available in single-dose vials and prefilled disposable syringes (packaged without needles) (Preservative Free Formulation)

¨  Store at 2°C to 8°C(36° and 46°F) in a refrigerator. Do not dilute to administer.

¨  Do not freeze; discard if vaccine has been frozen.