Hepatitis: Adults Can Also Get Vaccinated If They Missed The Jab In Childhood
Adults who missed their shots earlier in life can — and should — get vaccinated now, say doctors.
Dr Piyush Marudwar, consultant gastroenterologist and liver transplant physician, said that even today, millions of adults remain unaware that the Hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective, and easily available at any age. "Hepatitis may be silent, but our response must be loud. Awareness, timely screening, and vaccination are our strongest tools in defeating this global health challenge," said Dr Marudwar.
Adding a local perspective, Dr Amol Samarth, gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Super Specialty Hospital, Nagpur, said that hepatitis remains an underdiagnosed but serious threat in Vidarbha, especially because of late testing. "In Nagpur, we are seeing a growing number of patients diagnosed with Hepatitis B and C during evaluations for other illnesses. Unfortunately, many reach us when liver damage has already progressed.
Routine screening and adult vaccination are the most effective ways to prevent this," said Dr Samarth.
He added that public hospitals like Super Specialty Hospital offer affordable screening and consultation facilities, and that both Hepatitis B vaccination and antiviral treatment are widely accessible in Nagpur now. This year's theme, 'Hepatitis Can't Wait', underscores the urgency of acting early. Doctors warn that the post-Covid disruption in routine health check-ups has led to delays in hepatitis detection and follow-up care.
"Hepatitis is one of the leading causes of end-stage liver disease and the need for liver transplantation in India," said Dr Rahul Saxena, secretary of ZTCC Nagpur and a prominent liver transplant surgeon. "Nagpur is gradually becoming a liver transplant-ready city with better awareness and infrastructure. But to reduce the burden, we must focus on prevention," he said. "Hepatitis B has a safe and effective vaccine, and Hepatitis C is now curable with oral medications.
Still, many patients present late due to lack of awareness or stigma," Dr Saxena added.
All specialists emphasised that testing for hepatitis should be as common as checking for diabetes or blood pressure, especially for high-risk groups such as healthcare workers, pregnant women, dialysis patients, and those who've had blood transfusions.
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