Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis B causes inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.

The Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent is used to help prevent this disease in children and teenagers.

The vaccine helps your child's body develop immunity to hepatitis B, but will not treat an active infection the child already has.

Vaccination with Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent is recommended for all children beginning at birth, especially children and adolescents who are at risk of getting hepatitis B. Risk factors include: living with someone infected with hepatitis B virus; being born to a mother who is infected with hepatitis B; being on dialysis; living in a facility for developmentally disabled people; traveling to areas where hepatitis B is common; being an adolescent who has never received a this medicine during childhood.

Like any vaccine, the Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent may not provide protection from disease in every person.

Tell your child's doctor if he or she uses other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

The vaccine is injected into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.

The Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent is given in a series of shots beginning shortly after birth. The booster shots are sometimes given 1 to 2 months and 6 to 18 months after the first shot. If your child does not receive a birth dose, the vaccine series should begin as early as possible.

Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow the doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent will not protect against infection with hepatitis A, C, and E, or other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect against hepatitis B if your child is already infected with the virus, even if he or she does not yet show symptoms.

Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing hepatitis B. Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent should not be given to a child who is allergic to yeast.

If your child has any of these other conditions, this vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:

• kidney disease (or if the child is on dialysis);

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy bruising;

• an allergy to latex rubber; or

• a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine).

Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a minor cold. If the child has a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, your child's doctor may recommend waiting until the child gets better before receiving this vaccine.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Contact the doctor if your child misses a booster dose or if he or she gets behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. Your child may not be fully protected if he or she does not receive the full series.

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.

Follow the doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Get emergency medical help if your child has signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Your child may feel faint after receiving this vaccine. Some people have had seizure like reactions after receiving this vaccine. The doctor may want your child to remain under observation for a short time after the injection.

Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Call the doctor at once if your child has:

• breathing that stops during sleep;

• fever, chills, swollen glands.

• fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer;

• unusual muscle weakness;

• changes in behavior; or

• severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in the face or tongue, burning in the eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects of Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent may include:

• diarrhea, loss of appetite;

• feeling weak or tired;

• mild fussiness or crying;

• low fever; or

• runny nose.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call the doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

Before your child receives this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has recently received.

Other drugs may interact with hepatitis B pediatric vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of the health care providers about all medicines your child uses now and any medicine your child starts or stops using.