If a husband or wife has hepatitis B, the transmission rate to partners is high. This is because the disease primarily transmits through sexual contact and blood when sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, tweezers, nail clippers, and razors. These are factors difficult to avoid in married life.

The most effective way to prevent hepatitis B is vaccination, offering over 95% protection if all doses are administered. Antibody level testing is essential before vaccination. If an individual is already infected, the vaccine will not be effective. If antibody levels are absent or below protective levels, vaccination is necessary to boost immunity and prevent infection. You should get an antibody level test to understand your health status and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Older adults receiving hepatitis B vaccine when a family member is infected at VNVC Vaccination System. Photo: Dieu Thuan

Currently, Vietnam offers single hepatitis B vaccines and combination vaccines that also protect against hepatitis A in one shot. The standard vaccination schedule consists of three doses over six months. Your situation, as a high-risk individual, requires a 4-dose rapid regimen: the first three doses within one month, followed by a fourth booster dose after one year. Afterward, you should undergo antibody level tests as directed by a doctor. Regular health check-ups and booster shots are also necessary if antibody levels fall below protective levels. For your husband, adherence to his treatment regimen is crucial to reduce the viral load in his blood and lower the risk of transmission.

Beyond you, other family members are also at high risk of exposure, so regular disease testing is recommended. If they become infected, treatment should follow a doctor's instructions. If antibody levels are absent or insufficient for protection, early vaccination is crucial to boost antibodies.

Hepatitis B is an acute infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Those infected need to use antiviral medication lifelong to control the disease, preventing complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, up to 90% of people with hepatitis B are unaware of their condition because the disease in its early stages often shows no clear symptoms, making detection difficult without a blood test.

According to WHO, an estimated 8-10% of Vietnam's population is infected with the hepatitis B virus. Vietnam is also among the countries with the highest global prevalence of the hepatitis B virus.

Doctor Tran Huynh Tan

(Medical Manager, VNVC Vaccination System)

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