Hepatitis B Vaccine
What You Need to Know

Who should get hepatitis B vaccine and when?
  1. Everyone 18 years of age and younger
  2. Adults over 18 who are at risk

Adults at risk for HBV infection include:

  • people who have more than one sex partner in 6 months
  • men who have sex with other men
  • sex contacts of infected people
  • people who inject illegal drugs
  • health care and public safety workers who might be exposed to infected blood or body fluids
  • household contacts of persons with chronic HBV infection
  • hemodialysis patients

If you are not sure whether you are at risk, ask your
doctor or nurse.

  • People should get 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine according to the following schedule. If you miss a dose or get behind schedule, get the next dose as soon as you can. There is no need to start over.
 
WHO?
   
Infant whose mother is infected with HBV
Infant whose mother is not infected with HBV
Older child, adolescent, or adult

W
H
E
N
?

First Dose Within 12 hours of birth Birth-2 months of age Any time
Second Dose 1-2 months of age 1-4 months of age ( at least 1 month after first dose) 1-2 months after first dose
Third Dose 6 months of age 6-18 months of age 4-6 months of age
  • The second dose must be given at least 1 month after the first dose.
  • The third dose must be given at least 2 months after the second dose and at least 4 months after the first.
  • The third dose should not be given to infants under 6 months of age, because this could reduce long-term protection.

Adolescents 11 to 15 years of age may need only two doses of hepatitis B vaccine, separated by 4-6 months. Ask your health care provider for details.

Hepatitis B vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases