All UK children should be immunised against the hepatitis B virus says the British Medical Association.
The doctors' organisation says that such a move would save lives and be more cost effective than treating liver failure and cancer caused by the virus.
At the moment only those at highest risk of infection are immunised. But, there are concerns that some parents could be nervous about their children receiving another jab following the controversy over MMR.
Should Britain's children receive widespread immunisation against hepatitis B? Has your child had it already?
This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
 | SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Bill, UK  Should our children be vaccinated against hepatitis B? |
Having the Hep B jab is essential for all, both young and old. It's not a question of 'should I, shouldn't I', it's a question of how quickly you can get it done! I'm a student nurse, so you can guess why I'm all up for it.
Dan Spry, Plymouth, England
Of course all children should be immunised against Hepatitis B. It is more contagious and in some cases more deadly than HIV, and even if parents are worried about the MMR they should realise that there are many children who have been immunised and suffered no side affects at all. I have had the MMR and Hep B and I'm fine.
James, London, UK
Why? I do not recall anybody suffering from widespread Hepatitis. This is just another cry-wolf from the medical authorities who like nothing better than to waste money then cry poverty. If there was a need for it fair enough, but there isn't. Not in this country, yet.
Keith, Sunderland, UK
My son was born in Australia and was immunised against Hep B at birth. When my daughter was born last year in the UK, I requested that she be immunised too. I was accused of being an intravenous drug-user, and told that if I wasn't, there was "no point" in giving her the injection. I would welcome the opportunity to give her the protection that the rest of us have in the family. It would also save on injections later in life when visiting high-risk countries.
Lou, Burton-on-Trent, UK
Darwin had it right, "survival of the fittest" All these jabs and vaccines are making the human race weaker and weaker as we are not producing strong immune systems naturally. I for one do not take jabs and I am just fine thanks.
Chris, UK
| Immunisation may protect some children, but what about those with multiple allergies? |
Immunisation may protect some children, but what about those with multiple allergies? My child has acute reactions to carrot (among many things), do I want to inject him with substances including mercury? Doctors are courted by pharmaceuticals - taken away on golf weekends, trips to the USA etc; given monthly buffet spreads in their surgeries etc. How can I be sure they have chosen the best (safest) product when they are paid by these companies if they vaccinate a certain amount of children?
Elizabeth, Glasgow I would just like to add that I was a firm believer of immunisations until I had the hep B vaccine and have developed rheumatoid arthritis which is ruining my life. The vaccine has altered my immune system - why can't we have a blood test before being given the vaccine to see if we are likely to have a reaction. And also why aren't all the side effects listed on the warning leaflet which comes with the vaccine. I know the vaccine is supposed to be "safe" but I'm the living proof that it's not!
K Warren, Surrey
Why do people automatically assume that when a new vaccine is suggested that the medical profession and the government are out to make money? Might it be that they actually see the effects that Hep B vaccine can have? Wouldn't it just be better to stop it happening in the first place? I'm a medical student and so have had the Hep B vaccine and never had any problems!
Babs, London
Absolutely yes. Health chiefs have warned that unchecked immigration has caused widespread increases in diseases such as Hep B, Typhoid and Aids. It's only fair that our children have some kind of defence to this. It's a problem created by the government, so it should arrange for widespread immunisation to be carried out.
Nick, Kent
I am an English ex-pat living in Australia. Both our daughters were born out here and were vaccinated against Hep B minutes after birth, which is standard practice. My wife and I have also received the vaccinations due to our occupations (registered nurse and police officer). All four of us are fit and healthy and have suffered no ill effects.
Chris, Brisbane, Australia
Why does everyone assume that they are a medical professional? Children are far from the sickly bundles that parents assume them to be. They need exposure to things like dirt and also to vaccines which can help them later in life. Lets stop worrying that they are getting 'overdoses' and look at the facts from other countries which have used these for years.
Gemma, London
The option to have our children immunised free should be available. But I'm greatly concerned about any form of coercion to encourage parents or GPs to help ensure that all children are immunised.
James Rigby, Wickford, Essex, UK This page fills me with rage, and some of the ignorance displayed is astounding. Yes, scientists sometimes get it wrong and, yes, this sometimes has negative effects. However, the medical and research community are not out to make money by "pumping children full of chemicals". Of course there are commercial concerns involved but, if there weren't robust testing procedures and large clinical trials in place, do you seriously that doctors would be allowed to administer the vaccine? This probably smacks of paternalism, but sometimes (honestly) doctor does know best. Get your children immunised if you are offered the chance. What's the point in not protecting them from a preventable disease?
Alistair, Dundee, UK
I'm not sure what worries me the most - disease or the arrogance and shouting down of dissent, an arrogance that has its basis in "do what Doctor tells you." The medical profession can be wrong, as with thalidomide, mercury in vaccines and many other things. I'd want to research this thoroughly before signing up to make a drug company richer.
Pat B, London UK
I would like to ask the people telling us the Hep B jab is dangerous, or that it's just a way of making money, or that we are overloading our children's immune systems if they honestly think that half of them would be alive today if it weren't for such jabs they had received in childhood? It's not just coincidence that childhood mortality rates were so high before such immunisation schemes came into place.
Beka, Durham, UK
I am a Brit living and working in Kenya. I daily see the impacts of many of the "childhood" diseases that many of my friends in the UK think are mild and common place. The diseases our kids are immunised against can severely disable or kill. They are not mild. We seem to forget that in a climate of good health care and antibiotics. Hep B is highly infectious, much more so than HIV. Yes by all means try to treat the causes of spread but don't leave your children (or yourself for that matter) open to danger. There are many comments lamenting the rights of parents over scientists. Well I am a scientist and parent I can wholeheartedly say that my daughter will receive the Hep B jab when she is old enough to have it. Scientists are not infallible as we all know but I would still place my child's best interests health-wise in the medical profession rather than in the hands of those parents who pump their children full of chemicals such as nicotine and neglect to see the benefit of a good diet and a little TLC.
Sarah, Kenya
I'm not worried about side effects, and if the numbers are rising, then fine, bring in the vaccine. I'm a bit confused as to how children have been getting Hep B, though. We tend to associate these kinds of diseases with sex or violent sports like rugby (where players have to leave the pitch if they're bleeding). I'm all for the vaccine. I've had it and I feel great!
Marianne, Bristol
| The majority of Hep B cases are being imported from abroad thanks to immigration |
The majority of Hep B cases are being imported from abroad thanks to immigration, and it seems that like the current TB crisis, the government is choosing to target young babies rather than the people stepping of the planes.
Hannah, London, UK In my doctor's surgery there is a list of all immunisations for children from birth. Hepatitis is included along with all the other immunisations as in the UK. It seems to be no problem out here.
Pat, France
Let's be clear now: vaccines are not drugs. They will not cause resistant strains of viruses or bacteria. What they do is make the immune system ready to attack any future infections. Prevention of acquiring an infection is by far better than pumping our kids full drugs when they do get an infection. These days we are so cocooned in our healthy lives that we forget they are based upon the vaccines we received as children. We must not deny this to our children.
Chris, Manchester, UK
I hope that people are given warning about all the side effects of the vaccine for hepatitis B. I coincidentally developed rheumatoid arthritis two weeks after having the vaccine for hep B.
K Warren, Surrey, England
Where does the vaccination bandwagon stop? Our parents didn't have hepatitis B injections. I have only had hep B injections due to the nature of my work as a scientist working with sewage. Removal of the risk of hep B isn't going to alter the risk of catching HIV/Aids from the same bodily fluids.
Martyn Howie, Aberdeen
Why should our children be held hostage by middle-class parents and their luddite attitudes towards immunisation? I'm fed up of this lot with their degrees in media studies and a woeful lack of scientific knowledge driving the medical agenda. Stick to aromatherapy, reflexology and Bach flower remedies for yourself, but stop putting the rest of at risk with your selfish attitudes.
Mark Blackman, London
| All adults need to be educated about the importance of immunisation |
Before children receive the hep B jab, all adults need to be educated about the importance of immunisation and its risks. It seems that there are some very badly informed parents out there who would rather risk serious, preventable disease than a safe jab. Seemingly there is NEVER enough evidence to support the BMA and its recommendations
Alison, Leeds, UK With more worldwide travel the potential to be a carrier will increase. If an injection can stop it being a problem long term then go for it.
Jim Kirk, Basildon, UK
I think babies should be immunised. I have hepatitis B myself (caught in 1990 after a blood transfusion while being treated for Leukaemia). A small jab is a minute price to pay for the hassle and uncertainty that I sometimes have to endure.
Tom, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Hepatitis B is a highly infectious disease, which often makes people very ill and is difficult to treat. We should count ourselves lucky that we have the means to protect ourselves against it with a vaccine that has been shown in extensive trials to be safe.
Caroline, London
I am a Brit living in the US. Both my children eight and 13 were immunised three years ago with no ill effects. I myself had the immunisation years ago whilst working in the NHS and suffered no ill effects.
Tina Bird, New Jersey, USA
| Give parents the facts and let them decide for themselves! |
The concern here is the authoritarian reaction of the medical profession to a minor problem. I am sick to the back teeth of hearing about "herd immunity" and such like. How long will it be till someone comes up with the idea of identity chipping each baby at birth? Give parents the facts and let them decide for themselves!
Len, Scotland People should think very carefully before agreeing to this. My sister had the hep B jab for her work and after about 6 weeks she was off work ill, and shortly after diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This drug needs more testing in relation to this.
Anon, Kent
Let's trust the scientists. After all, they are the same people who promised Thalidomide was safe, so they must know what they're talking about.
Jonny, England
Another vaccination issue, another enormous spout of ignorance. Viruses tend not to develop resistance, otherwise wiping out smallpox would have been impossible. Hep B is a nasty very infectious virus, I am glad I have been immunised. Protect your kids or don't protect them, its up to you.
Paul Beckett, London, UK
Immunising people who are not at significant risk of infection will compound the issue, not resolve it. It encourages growth of resistant and more powerful strains of the virus. This is a short-sighted cost initiative that has more to do with money than health.
Dave, London, UK
How do we know that the current cocktail of drugs doctors are pumping into our children are not going to affect our them in later life? What doctor in the world can put their life and reputation on the line to say that there will definitely not be any side effects at all?
Ken, Northern Ireland
I had the hep B jab as I am a medical student (actually it's 3 jabs). It has done me no harm, it is a fairly well tested drug and has been around a long time. The effects are known. Immunisations do not weaken our immune system. They strengthen it as our immune system responds in the same way as it would to the infection, but without the risk of the virus/ bacteria replicating and causing problems.
Martin, Glasgow
If you pay doctors on the basis of the number of vaccinations they do then they will want to vaccinate people. They will also want to make the research look like the product is useful. When is the world going to wake up to medical self interest?
Paul Davies, Mid Wales
| The small number of vaccines you receive in early life don't overload the immune system |
Yes, everyone should receive this safe and effective vaccine to stop such a devastating disease and the effects it causes including cancer and other fatal forms of liver damage. As a biochemist, I've had the vaccine because of working with human blood and didn't suffer from any ill effects. The small number of vaccines you receive in early life don't overload the immune system as someone earlier has correctly said. Every day each of us are exposed to thousands of bugs that have the ability to make us ill, they don't damage the immune system as they prime it to be ever ready to protect us when needed.
Jon, Hampshire, UK Our society is protected from the horrors of diseases such as smallpox, measles and polio because of the breakthrough of immunisation. Those people that object to immunisation should live in a society where those diseases are widespread. As to the "filling of our children with chemicals" - our children are exposed to thousands of new antigens every day that build up their immune system. Hepatitis B is highly infectious where contact with blood has occurred and would be worthwhile routinely immunising against.
David Morriss, Rossendale, Lancs, UK
Why is hepatitis on the rise? Maybe we should reduce the root cause rather than go in for wholesale immunisation.
Ian, Bradford, UK
| Unfortunately we can't make working vaccines out of flowers and honey? |
'When will they stop filling our children with chemicals?' Unfortunately we can't make working vaccines out of flowers and honey. If the vast majority of qualified people say the benefits outweigh the risks then the best we can do is follow their advice.
Matt, Manchester I am a Scot, living in the States. Both of my kids (4 and 13) have been immunised with no side affects whatsoever.
Diane Ward, Columbus, Indiana, US
Both of my children have been vaccinated for hep B. Here it is a given to all babies as a standard multiple vaccination along with tetanus, diphtheria, polio, TB and whooping cough. I have never had any concerns about whether my children should be given such multiple vaccinations.
Gillian, Germany
Immunisation saves lives. Fact. As a paediatrician I wholeheartedly support any measure that is proven to reduce harm and suffering to children. The primary reason it is not universal currently in the UK is cost. I have worked in countries where it is universally offered and it is safe and does work. It saves lives.
Stewart, Glasgow
I have had many immunisations either for work or travel, including the hep B jab, with no side effects at all. Anything which reduces the chance of children getting a potentially fatal and, above all, preventable disease should be welcomed.
Jon, Preston
I think this would be very good. It's natural that children share toys etc, and we want them to have some protection against serious infections without spoiling their fun and ultimately affecting their intellectual and physical development.
Lesley, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
My mother is a paediatrician. She absolutely insisted on immunising my daughter against the hepatitis B virus 5 years ago.
Inga, England
If both WHO and the BMA advise this, then maybe we ought to get on with it instead of bringing up the usual scare stories to do with 'chemicals', 'over injection' and 'weakened immune systems'.
Nik, Preston
| Could this not wait until the children are older? |
As this is a blood borne disease and the major modes of transmission are by sexual contact and sharing drug needles could this not wait until the children are older, it doesn't have to be given to babies? Perhaps at 13 just before BCG.
Mary, Amersham, Bucks I think the jab is a great idea, I am happy to let my two children receive it. Why should we watch our children suffer unnecessary because we cannot offer the best start in life.
Leia, Nantwich Cheshire
Our children are over-immunised. The proportion of people who are at risk of catching Hep B is very small and I do not believe we should compromise our children's immune system further. All immunisations cause the immune system to act unnaturally and weaken it. We need to strengthen our immune systems so that we can fight off disease. It seems the big drug companies are pushing for further sales.
Madeleine Hladnik, London, UK
To Madeleine Hladnik. Immunisations do not weaken our immune systems, in fact they help to strengthen them by introducing them to the disease so that our bodies can recognise and produce antibodies to attack the foreign body. People need to understand how vaccinations work before panicking.
NG, Brighton, UK
Madeleine Hladnik - immunisations do not cause the immune system to act unnaturally and certainly do not weaken it. They are designed to provide lasting protection against a huge variety of foreign bodies and one more immunisation should not pose a problem to the body. The one thing I would say is that to be really effective you must get boosters of the vaccine every 5 years, which may be hard to keep up into adulthood.
Nicola, London, England
| If the BMA recommends the vaccine, then it should be introduced for all children |
I don't understand all the fuss about babies getting lots of jabs at the same time. People should remember that babies (like all of us) are exposed to thousands, if not more, bacteria, viruses and fungi on a daily basis. Hep B is a devastating disease and if the BMA recommends the vaccine, then it should be introduced for all children.
Anon, UK Maybe children should have the Hep B, but the medical establishment have destroyed their credibility with the arrogant way they responded to fears about MMR. Even if the fears were unfounded their response should have been more sympathetic to parents and less authoritarian.
Anonymous, Stockport
Good grief - when will they stop filling our children with chemicals? If my children were young enough to qualify for a Hep B immunisation, I would be the first to say no! Doctors don't know how this vaccination will work when combined with all of the other vaccinations our children have. I say let's only vaccinate those at high risk and let the parents decide on the rest.
Mo C, UK
Mo C, UK - why do parents automatically think they know better than the medical staff who have trained for years and years? How does becoming a 'parent' suddenly make you an expert in these matters? I am really tired of people thinking they know better than the pros. Hep B vaccinations have been around for years, thoroughly tried and tested. If you don't want to vaccinate your child, then fine, bury your head in the sand, but don't go around scaremongering!
Jo, UK
I've had the jab, but I'm more concerned as to why the primary route of infection is not being tackled. The BMA have said themselves that mainly foreigners have bought Hep B into this country, so why are measures not being taken to question why such highly contagious people are being let into our country? The only reason I had to have the jab is because I'm a volunteer for the health sector, and even then I was sceptical of having it done. Surely their are other ways of tackling infections other than pumping our children with drugs?
Sue, Oxford, UK
Yet another blanket immunisation? And which Blair donor's company will benefit from this?
Jo Jo, South London
Absolutely, but only if it is given as a single jab. There is enough controversy over the triple MMR jab already. We should not be bombarding young babies with multiple doses at the best of times. It is still unclear how babies react to so much being put into their bodies at once. Until we can rule out 100% the risk of autism as a result of the multiple jab, we should not make it stronger by adding another.
Karen Smith, London, UK
Karen Smith, London, UK. A very safe, very effective jab for Hep B has been available for decades. It's given as two injections six months apart. There would be no medical or financial incentive to change this. Because I work with human blood I have received the vaccine several times with no ill effect at all. The MMR-Autism link has been blown apart by dozens of studies across the world.
Peter, Nottingham
If the WHO and the BMA say yes, then I think yes, we should immunise all babies, and put in place an immunisation programme to protect young children too.
Jo, Leics, UK
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