It has been estimateed that over 200 million people have been infected. Hepatitis - B infection is more common in most countries than it is in Sweden. It is estimated that there are about 8000 persons infected in Sweden. A vaccine exists which is usully recommended to persons who are considered to run a continous and long-term risk of infection. For example , children under the age of three have, through past experience , been shown to be risk of infection for their own families.
Family members are then offerred the vaccine.
The vaccine has also been shown to be effective if it is given a short time after there has been a possible chanceof infection. Hepatitis - B comes within the jurisdiction of the Law on Infection Diseases. This means, among ather things, that family members have the right to free medicalexaminations and vaccination. These new general recommendations came into force during 1991. But it can be resorted to if, in spite of everything, there has been a case of possible infection.