Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Hepatitis B Vaccination
Pronounced (hep-ah-TY-tiss)
Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent HBV infection.
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- CDC's official Hepatitis B website
- Brief description
Symptoms, treatment, transmission, etc. - Frequently Asked Questions
- Pictures of Hepatitis B
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - What if we stopped vaccinating for this disease?
- CDC en Español! - Hepatitis
- Hepatitis B basics
Fact sheet offers overview of Hepatitis B disease and vaccine risks and benefits
The vaccination schedule most often used for adults and children has been three intramuscular injections, the second and third administered 1 and 6 months after the first. Recombivax HB® has been approved as a two dose schedule for aged 11-15 years. Twinrix® has also been approved as a four dose accelerated schedule.
- Who Needs to be Vaccinated?
Podcast: Don't Leave the Hospital Without It
(59 seconds)
Discusses the importance of newborns receiving the hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth. (Created: 8/1/2008 by MMWR; released: 7/31/2008; running time: 0:59)- Side effects from vaccine
Excerpt from Vaccine Information Statement
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- State Vaccine Requirements
- Travelers information
Vaccine information and recommended doses, etc. - "Every week hundreds of people get hepatitis B. Get Protected! Get Vaccinated!"
Tri-fold brochure on hepatitis B vaccination for adults
[PDF-142KB, 2 pages] - "Every year, thousands of people are infected with hepatitis B virus, including teens--Be sure you're fully vaccinated against this infection!"
Tri-fold brochure on hepatitis B vaccination for preteens [PDF-73KB, 2 pages]
There is no confirmed evidence which indicates that hepatitis B vaccine can cause chronic illnesses.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Hepatitis B Vaccine
- The Safety of Multiple Vaccines
For example, DTaP-Hib and Hib-HepB (hepatitis B)
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
- Is the Hepatitis B vaccine safe? and other frequently asked questions
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Hepatitis B
- Updated CDC recommendation for the management of Hepatitis B virus-infected heathcare providers and students NEW July 2012
- Pink Book's chapter on Hepatitis B Updated April 2011
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, 12th Edition - Ask the Experts: Hepatitis B
CDC experts answer your clinical questions (Immunization Action Coalition) - Pediarix™ vaccine: questions and answers
- Hepatitis B vaccination of adults: occupational health providers
- MMWR: Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis
- Recommended dosages & schedules of hepatitis A vaccines and hepA/hepB combination vaccines
- Proper storage and handling of vaccines Updated Dec 2011
CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling guide includes shelf life, reconstitution instructions... - Package inserts
(Comvax, Engerix-B, Pediarix, Recombivax HB, Twinrix, and more package inserts...) Posted Feb 2010
- Standing Orders
Hepatitis B and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Hepatitis B
- Hep B and Moms to Be [PDF-4.50MB, 2 pages]
- Perinatal Hepatitis B Coordinator Resource Center
- Recommendations, resources, & general info from IAC
Vaccine Recommendations on Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B Vaccination of Infants, Children, and Adolescents (ACIP Recommendations)
- Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations [PDF-68KB, 1 page]
Posted Jul 2008 - Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Infections with Hepatitis Viruses in Correctional Settings
- Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis
- Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Infections Among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
- Hemodialysis and Viral Hepatitis: Hepatitis B Vaccination and Testing
- Contraindications
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
References and Resources
- Hepatitis B related-MMWR reports
- Pink Book's chapter on Hepatitis B [PDF-520KB, 24 pages] Updated April 2011
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
- Surveillance manual's chapter on Hepatitis B Posted Aug 2008
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance Guidelines and Forms
- Gaps in Hospital Policies and Practices to Prevent
Perinatal Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus
Pediatrics Volume 125, Number 4, Apr 2010 - The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in the United States in the era of vaccination. Posted Jun 2010
J Infect Dis. Jun 9, 2010 - Travelers Health: Yellow Book
- Viral Hepatitis Helpful External Links
- Admission Orders for Labor & Delivery and Newborn Units to Prevent
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Transmission [PDF-119KB, 2 pages] - National Hepatitis B Initiative for Asian
Americans/Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders
Provider Education
- Cases of harm resulting from missed birth dose [PDF-61KB, 1 page]
- "Your
patient is relying on YOU to protect her baby
from hepatitis B"
[PDF-140KB, 2 pages] (brochure for physicians)
Source: Ohio Department of Health Immunization Program - Podcasts on Hepatitis B vaccination and on Hepatitis
Materials for Patients
- CDC Patient Education Resources (fact sheets, brochures, posters, etc.)
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Feature: Hepatitis Awareness Month
- Hep B and Moms to Be [PDF-4.50MB, 2 pages]
- What
I need to know about Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B interactive tutorial
Also available in: Spanish - Viral hepatitis
materials in languages other than English
from Immunization Action Coalition - Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences [PDF-73KB, 1 page]
From the Immunization Action Coalition - Viral Hepatitis: Information for Gay and Bisexual Men [PDF-790KB, 2 pages]
- Patient
materials and more resources from IAC
- Stories of people who suffered or died from hepatitis B virus infection
- Hepatitis B: Questions and Answers [PDF-80KB, 7 pages]
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (http://www.vaccineinformation.org) Dated 10/10
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This page last modified on July 6, 2012
Content last reviewed on April 22, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases