Hepatitis B vaccine protects against hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a serious infection that can cause complications such as liver cancer and cirrhosis. The vaccine gives long-term, possibly life long  protection from hepatitis B infection.

Who should get the hepatitis B vaccine and when ?

The vaccine consists of 3 doses.

 

Schedule

• at birth
• between 1 and 2 months
• between 6 and 18 months

The hepatitis B vaccine may be given by itself or in the same shot with other vaccines.

 

Some babies may get 4 doses if , for example a combination vaccine containing hepatitis B is used. This extra dose is not harmful.

 

You should get the vaccine if you are up to 18 years of age and didn’t get the vaccine as a child.

 

Adults who need the vaccine include the following :

• people who inject street drugs
• men who have sex with other men
• people with more than one sex partner
• people with chronic liver or kidney disease
• sex partners of people infected with hepatitis B
• people on kidney dialysis
• people who travel to places with high incidence of hepatitis B
• HIV patients
• if you have diabetes and are under the age of 60
• residents and staff in institutions for the developmentally disabled
• people whose jobs expose them to human blood or other body fluids

Other people who may also be encouraged to get the vaccine include :

• high risk pregnant women who  want to protect themselves against the vaccine
• anyone who wants to get protection against the hepatitis B virus

Adults getting the vaccine should get 3 doses. The second  dose should be given 4 weeks after the first and the third dose 5 months after the second.

 

Pregnant women in the United States are tested for hepatitis B. If you test positive , your baby should get an injection of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), as well as the hepatitis B vaccine, to provide short-term protection within 12 hours of birth.