Adult haemodialysis patients and patients with severely impaired renal function who expect to have dialysis are recommended to receive larger-than-usual doses of hepatitis B vaccine
Adult haemodialysis or pre-dialysis patients are recommended to receive larger-than-usual doses of hepatitis B vaccine — either:
- 1.0 mL of Engerix-B adult formulation (20 µg) in each arm at each schedule point (that is, a double dose on each occasion) in a 4-dose schedule at 0, 1, 2 and 6 months,8 or
- a single dose of H-B-Vax II dialysis formulation (40 µg) on each occasion in a 3-dose schedule at 0, 1 and 6 months
Dialysis patients and patients with severely impaired renal function who expect to have dialysis may be at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus infection. They may also respond less well to vaccination than other people.
Levels of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen should be checked after the vaccination course. See Serological testing after hepatitis B vaccination.
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Printed content may be out of date. For up to date information, always refer to the digital version: https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/recommendations/adult-haemodialysis-patients-and-patients-with-severely-impaired-renal-function-who.