Hepatitis B vaccination for healthcare students

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a serious infectious disease of the liver. It can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth, through sexual contact, or through contact with infected blood.

Would you like to learn more about hepatitis B, the disease itself, and the vaccine? Read more on our page about the hepatitis B vaccine.

Do I still need a hepatitis B vaccine if I was vaccinated as a child?

Since 2011, the hepatitis B vaccine has been part of the National Immunization Program. As a result, most people born on or after 2011 were vaccinated against hepatitis B as children.

Are you planning to work in healthcare or do a healthcare internship? In that case, the vaccination from the National Immunization Program alone is usually not sufficient. For healthcare workers and healthcare students, it’s important to check whether the vaccination still provides adequate protection. That’s why a booster shot and a titer test are often necessary.

People born before 2011 were generally not vaccinated against hepatitis B through the National Immunization Program. Vaccination is also recommended for them if they belong to a high-risk group, such as healthcare workers and healthcare students.

For which programs is a hepatitis B vaccination required?

A hepatitis B vaccination is required for many medical, paramedical, and healthcare programs. This applies to programs where you may come into contact with blood or other bodily fluids during internships, clinical rotations, or lab sessions.

Examples include:

• HBO-V
• Medicine
• Dental Hygiene
• Dentistry
• Physical Therapy
• BMH
• Midwifery
• Police

Do the shots hurt?

Most people tolerate the vaccine well. You’ll feel a brief prick when you get the shot, and your arm may be a little tender or sore the next day. Our experienced nurses take the time to reassure you, even if you’re nervous about getting vaccinated. Serious side effects are rare.

How much does a hepatitis B vaccination cost?

If you receive a notice through your school or university, they will usually offer it for free.

If you don’t receive a notice through your educational institution, you’ll typically have to cover the costs yourself. In exceptional cases, a health insurance provider may reimburse the cost of the vaccination. Always check your policy terms and conditions.

A hepatitis B vaccination is a key requirement for many roles in the healthcare sector. By getting vaccinated on time, you’ll be well prepared for your internship and future career.

How many hepatitis B vaccinations do you need?

Three doses are required: two doses one month apart, followed by a third dose 6–12 months later. In addition, a blood test one month after the third dose is recommended for people at occupational risk. This is done to check whether the immune system has responded properly to the vaccine and whether an additional dose may be needed.

Combining Hepatitis A and B Vaccinations

Are you planning an internship or vacation in a country where hepatitis A is prevalent? If so, you can choose to get vaccinated against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B at the same time.

A combination vaccine is available for this purpose. With this vaccine, after three doses, you’ll be protected against hepatitis A for at least 50 years and protected against hepatitis B for life.

During your consultation, we’ll discuss together whether a combination vaccine is appropriate for your situation.