Welcome to my website! This website is dedicated to educating all citizens of the world, young and old, about the uses and importance of the Hepatitis B vaccines in society as well as in biotechnology. In a world where 2 billion people (1 out of every 3) are infected and approximately 1 million people die of this disease every year, early prevention is imperative, which is where the Hepatitis B vaccine comes in. ("Hep B Statistics") Besides the scary statistics, I also have personal connection with Hepatitis B since many of my relatives in Taiwan have chronic Hepatitis B that was passed on from mother to child. Asians have a much higher risk of getting Hepatitis B genetically than most other ethnic groups in the world. People with Chinese heritages have a seven times higher risk of getting liver cancer from Hepatitis B than Caucasians. The Vietnamese have among the highest risk among all Asian countries. ("HBI: Statistics") However, more than half of all the countries in the world are still at moderate to high risk of Hepatitis B epidemics. Take a look at the risk map below.  After looking at this map, you might notice that the United States is at low risk of Hepatitis B and think "Why should I care?" Even though most Americans are fortunate to live in a low-risk group, that doesn't mean Hepatitis B is completely none-existent in low-risk countries. Twelve million people in the United States have been infected and up to 100,000 people will be infected each year. These are still comparatively large numbers; the American population is about 350 million, meaning about 29% of all Americans are infected with Hepatitis B. Therefore, the Hepatitis B vaccine is the only currently available protection against Hepatitis B. Before we go on to how the vaccine is made and how it works, you may have some questions about Hepatitis B itself. |
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What is Hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is a contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus. It can be transmitted through blood, shared needles, unsafe sexual activity, or from infected mother to child. Although most infected adults are able to get rid of the virus without any complications, some more vulnerable adults and many infected children and infants develop chronic infections. ("FAQ: General Info") Right: A simple diagram of the Hepatitis B virus. The surface antigen, HBsAg, is used in the vaccine.  |
 Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Hepatitis B can also potentially cause primary liver cancer, making the Hepatitis B vaccine the first effective "anti-cancer" vaccine ever produced. Extreme effects of a Hepatitis B infection of the liver include jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and cirrhosis (where connective tissue destroys liver cells). ("Hepatitis B and Primary Liver Cancer") Left: A healthy liver vs. a liver with cirrhosis. Which liver would you like to have? |
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