SUMMARY: Hepatitis B vaccine is an inactivated vaccine which is available in the United Kingdom as a single vaccine or in combination with hepatitis A vaccine. Hepatitis B is a blood borne virus that is transmitted by parenteral exposure to infected blood or body fluids, including by sexual contact. Perinatal transmission of the hepatitis B virus from mother to infant may result in chronic infection of the newborn. 

There is limited information available to assess the potential fetotoxic effects following exposure to hepatitis B vaccine in human pregnancy, however there is no conclusive evidence that inactivated vaccines as a group are associated with an increased incidence of adverse fetal effects. 

The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation recommends that hepatitis B vaccine should not be withheld from a pregnant woman if she is in a high-risk category for hepatitis B infection. Inadvertent exposure to hepatitis B vaccine at any stage in pregnancy would not usually be regarded as medical grounds for termination of pregnancy or any additional fetal monitoring. 

Please report ALL cases of drug and/or chemical exposure in pregnancy to UKTIS by telephoning the service on 0844 892 0909 or by printing and completing a pregnancy reporting form, providing as many patient identifiers as possible to enable follow up of pregnancy outcome. This vital information enables UKTIS to provide evidence-based advice for future enquiries and to conduct surveillance of potential and known teratogens. 

For case specific advice please contact UKTIS on 0844 892 0909.