According to CDC, there are 1.2 million carriers of the virus in the U.S. and more than 300 million worldwide. The highly contagious liver disease is transmitted through close contact with infected blood and bodily fluids. Occasionally, transmission occurs in household settings of close personal contact, as by sharing toothbrushes or razors. At 20 mcg, Engerix-B adult dose is the hepatitis B vaccine on the market with the highest antigen content. CDC recommends that special dosing consideration be given to infants born to infected mothers, immunocompromised persons and dialysis patients.
Adverse reactions are generally mild and transient.
Most commonly seen adverse reactions include fatigue, soreness, erythema and swelling at the injection site. As with any biological product, serious adverse reactions may occur rarely. SmithKline Beecham , the parent of SmithKline Beecham Biologicals , the manufacturer of Engerix-B , is one of the world's leading healthcare companies. Any question regarding a medical diagnosis, treatment, referral, drug availability or pricing should be directed to either a licensed physician or to the product's manufacturer.