Protect Your Liver, Protect Your Life: Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B today!

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OPINION

By Dr Nasif Matovu  

As Uganda joins the world on July 28 to mark World Hepatitis Day, this year's theme carries urgency: "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down" A reminder that we must act now to expand access, integrate care, and end hepatitis B as a public health problem by 2030.

Hepatitis B is more than just another virus. It is a silent killer that attacks the liver, our body’s essential detoxifying organ. This can lead to scarring, liver failure, and even deadly liver cancer.

The worst part is that it is completely preventable. For children, the hepatitis B vaccine is given at birth alongside other childhood vaccines. For adults, the first step is to get tested. If an adult tests negative for hepatitis B, they can then proceed to get vaccinated against hepatitis B. However, if they test positive for hepatitis B, they can access specialised care at designated health centre IVs and regional referral hospitals across the country.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the hepatitis B situation in Uganda is concerning, with at least 6 in every 100 people infected, many of whom are unaware of their status. The virus often spreads silently from mother to child during childbirth or through contaminated needles, razors, and unprotected sexual contact. By the time symptoms such as fatigue, yellowing of the eyes, and abdominal pain appear, it may be too late, as advanced liver cancer can develop without warning.

Uganda offers a safe, free, and highly effective vaccine that provides up to 100% lifelong protection against hepatitis B. Since 2002, the vaccine has been part of the national immunisation program. However, despite its availability, many people remain unvaccinated and unknowingly put themselves at risk.

The hepatitis B vaccine schedule begins in infancy, with four doses administered starting at birth. Adults who have never been vaccinated can still gain protection after testing negative for hepatitis B. They can receive three doses over six months to build lasting immunity and lower their risk of liver disease. To check your status, visit the nearest government health facility (Health Centre III or above) where testing is offered free of charge.

Testing is also available at private facilities for a modest fee, and many private clinics that offer routine immunisation services provide the vaccine at no cost. As per the WHO, countries that have adopted the Hepatitis B vaccine have seen child infection rates drop from 5% to less than 1%. Imagine what we could achieve if every Ugandan adult took just a few minutes to get tested and vaccinated for free at their nearest health facility.

As we commemorate World Hepatitis Day, let us go beyond simply marking the occasion; let us take action. If you have never been vaccinated, now is the time to get tested and receive your shot. If your children missed their routine doses, ensure they catch up. In the fight against hepatitis B, awareness is protection, and vaccination is power. Make the choice today. Protect your health. Prevent liver cancer. Get tested and vaccinated against hepatitis B.

The writer is a Field Epidemiology Fellow with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, hosted at the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunisation (UNEPI).