Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B vaccine is a routine childhood vaccination. Typically, 3 doses of a combination vaccine are given: 1 shortly after birth, 1 at age 1 to 2 months, and 1 at age 6 to 18 months. Infants who did not receive a dose at birth should begin the series as soon as possible. (See CDC: Recommended Immunizations for Birth Through 6 Years Old, United States, 2025.)

Adolescents who have not received hepatitis B vaccine should be vaccinated between 11 years and 15 years of age (see also CDC: Catch-up Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents). Two or 3 doses are given depending on the vaccine formulation.

The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all adults 19 to 59 years of age who have never been vaccinated. Adults in this age group who have not been vaccinated are given 2, 3, or 4 doses depending on the vaccine formulation (see also CDC: Recommended Immunizations for Adults Aged 19 Years and Older, United States, 2025).

The vaccine is also recommended for all unvaccinated adults 60 years of age and older who have risk factors for hepatitis B:

• People who work in professions where they may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious body fluids, such as health care, custodial, or public safety workers

• People who travel to areas where the infection is common

• People with a chronic liver disorder (such as hepatitis C, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease, and autoimmune hepatitis) or high levels of certain liver enzymes in their blood

• People with kidney failure who need dialysis

• People who inject illicit drugs

• People who have had more than one sex partner within the past 6 months

• People who need to be evaluated or treated for a sexually transmitted infection

• Men who have sex with men

• Sex partners and household contacts of people known to be carriers of hepatitis B

• People with HIV infection

• People who are employed by, are given care in, or live in places where there are people at high risk of hepatitis B (such as places where people with sexually transmitted infections are treated and places where drug-abuse treatment and prevention services, services for injection drug users, and services for men who have sex with men are provided; hemodialysis centers, institutions for developmentally disabled people, correctional facilities, and HIV testing and treatment facilities)

Hepatitis B vaccine may also be given to adults 60 years of age and older who do not have risk factors if they would like protection from hepatitis B.

For people 60 years of age and older with diabetes, the decision to receive the HepB vaccine should be discussed with a health care professional.

The combination vaccine can be used in people 18 years of age and older who have a need for either hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccine and who have not been previously vaccinated with either one.

People who have had a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction (such as an anaphylactic reaction) to any component in a hepatitis B vaccine or to baker's yeast (which is used in the production of hepatitis B vaccines) should not receive a vaccine.

If people have a temporary illness, doctors usually wait to give the vaccine until the illness resolves (see also CDC: Who Should NOT Get Vaccinated With These Vaccines?).