COVID and Hep B FAQ

Health conditions that might contribute to a higher possible severity include:

• coronary heart disease,
• hypertension (high blood pressure),
• diabetes,
• obesity,
• cancer, and
• chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.

Older people, particularly those over the age of 70, are also especially at risk of severe illness and death from COVID.

Aboriginal people, particularly those over the age of 50, could also be at greater risk of severe illness because of generally higher rates of chronic illness. See Close The Gap >>>

Not having any additional health conditions, or being a young person, does not mean that severe COVID illness is not possible.
Click here for a full list of conditions that can make you most at risk for severe COVID illness >>

If you are worried that you might have COVID, take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).  For more info CLICK HERE >>> or call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.

If you feel really unwell, call 000 and seek urgent medical care.

No. We know that COVID is very different to the hep B virus. COVID affects breathing (the respiratory system); hep B affects and infects the liver.

If you have had a liver transplant you will be on immunosuppressive medication. There is currently no evidence that being on this medication increases the risk of severe COVID infection.  However long-term transplant patients are at risk of the health conditions that are known to increase the risk of severe COVID. For this reason, it is important to stay up to date with all COVID vaccinations and boosters as recommended by the Department of Health.

Give your specialist a call and discuss your health with them. They’ll be able to advise what steps to take and what is best for your health at this time. If you are diagnosed with COVID, you should let your liver transplant team know as antiviral medications are recommended for some people.

If you have cirrhosis of the liver there is no evidence that you have a higher chance of catching COVID.

Having cirrhosis of the liver can increase the risk of severe illness if you have COVID.

If you have elevated liver enzymes or abnormal liver function test (LFT) as a result of liver disease, you may also be at risk of severe illness if you have COVID.

For these reasons, it’s best to take all necessary precautions to keep yourself safe from COVID by following government and medical recommendations.

Everyone with cirrhosis should see their liver specialist regularly. Call and speak to your specialist about what is best for your health.

The hep B vaccine will ONLY protect you from the hep B virus; it will not provide any protection from COVID.

We definitely recommend getting the hep B vaccine to protect yourself from hep B, however now might not be the best time for it. The decision is yours.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE:  if you are at risk of hep B – for instance if you live with,  or have sex with, someone who might have hep B, or are a healthcare worker – we recommend you do get vaccinated against hep B as soon as possible.

Speak to your vaccinating nurse or doctor. There isn’t much evidence yet about getting vaccinated for hep B and COVID around the same time. Both hep B and COVID vaccines are equally important. If you would like to get both vaccines around the same time, it’s best that you speak to your vaccinating nurse or doctor.
NOTE: This rule has recently changed. In the past, people were told to wait 14 days between vaccinations.

No. There is no evidence to suggest hep B medications have an effect against COVID.

No. There is no evidence that hep B medications affect your immune system or make you more at risk of catching COVID.

Hep B medications only work on the hep B virus; they do not have any effect on your immune system.

Yes. Definitely keep taking your hep B treatment. Only stop taking your treatment if told to by your doctor or specialist.

It is important to take your hep B medication as prescribed otherwise the virus could become resistant and might be harder to keep under control.

REMINDER: not everyone who has hep B needs to be on medication. It is only for those whose specialist has prescribed it to protect their liver.

No. COVID testing is done with a nasal and/ or throat swab and only tests for COVID. It does not test for hep B. Hep B can only be detected through a blood test.

There is no evidence to suggest that people who have cleared hep B are at higher risk of catching COVID or being severely ill if they do get it.

You might be at higher risk if you also have a chronic health condition, are over 70, or have a weakened immune system (see a full list here >>)

No. You can protect yourself against COVID in the same ways as everyone else. We all need to be careful to stop the spread of COVID, for our own health and for the health of our communities.

You should take extra care to protect yourself from COVID if you:
– have an additional health condition (see a full list here >>>);
– are over 70;
– are over 50 and Aboriginal;
– have a weakened immune system.

Follow Government advice on keeping safe and stopping the spread of COVID CLICK HERE >>>

No. There is no evidence that having hep B makes you higher risk for severe illness from COVID.

No. There is no evidence that people living with hep B are at higher risk of catching COVID.

Follow Government advice on keeping safe and stopping the spread of COVID CLICK HERE >>>

Yes. People who have had a liver transplant and are on anti-rejection drugs can and should still get vaccinated for COVID. People who have had a liver transplant are more likely to get very sick if they get COVID. The vaccines are safe and effective.

Yes. The COVID vaccines are safe and recommended for people with cirrhosis. Getting a COVID vaccination may be especially important for people with cirrhosis of the liver who are at increased risk should they be exposed to COVID.

Yes. There is no evidence to suggest that the COVID vaccines have any impact on your hep B treatment. Just like with all other vaccines, the COVID vaccines are safe for people on hep B treatment.

It’s really important to always take hep B medication. You should only stop taking it if told to by your specialist.

No. There is no reason to be concerned about the COVID vaccines. There is no evidence to suggest that the COVID vaccines have any negative impact on a person who has hep B.