Hepatitis B Vaccine

What Is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong infection.

• Acute Hepatitis B is a short-term illness that can cause fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements), and pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach.
• Chronic Hepatitis B is a long-term infection that occurs when the virus remains in the body. Most people who develop chronic Hepatitis B don’t have symptoms, but the disease is still serious. It can lead to liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and even death.

People with chronic Hepatitis B can spread the virus to others even if they don’t feel or look sick themselves.

How Common Is Hepatitis B?

An estimated 580,000 to 2.4 million people in the United States are living with chronic Hepatitis B, and roughly half of them don’t know they’re infected. Because chronic infection can silently progress toward cirrhosis or liver cancer over decades, vaccination and screening are extremely important in prevention of the disease.

The First “Anti-Cancer” Vaccine

The Hepatitis B vaccine is widely recognized (including in FDA-approved vaccine labeling) as the first “anti-cancer” vaccine, because it prevents chronic Hepatitis B infection, which is a leading cause of liver cancer.

How Hepatitis B Spreads

Hepatitis B spreads when blood, semen, or other body fluids infected with HBV enter the body of someone who isn’t infected. This can happen through:

• Birth (a baby can become infected if the pregnant mother has hepatitis B)
• Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person
• Contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
• Sex with an infected partner
• Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
• Exposure to blood from needles or other sharp instruments

Who Should Get the Hepatitis B Vaccine?

• Infants: Should get their first dose at birth, completing the series between 6-18 months of age. The birth dose is a critical part of preventing long-term illness in infants and limiting the spread of Hepatitis B across the U.S.
• Anyone age 59 or younger: Who hasn’t completed the vaccine series should be vaccinated.
• Adults age 60 and older: Who are at increased risk of exposure to Hepatitis B and were not previously vaccinated should get the vaccine. Adults 60 and older who aren’t at increased risk but want protection may also be vaccinated.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women: Who were not previously vaccinated should be vaccinated, pregnancy or breastfeeding are not reasons to avoid the Hepatitis B vaccine.

Vaccine Schedule and Dosing

Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given as a 2, 3, or 4-shot series, depending on the vaccine product and the age or health status of the person being vaccinated. Your provider will recommend the schedule that’s right for you or your child. Most people who complete the Hepatitis B vaccine series are immune for life.

Safety and Side Effects

The most common side effects of Hepatitis B vaccine are soreness at the injection site, fever, headache, and fatigue. As with any vaccine, there is a very small chance of an allergic reaction. If you have any concerns, please talk to your provider.

This information is based on the CDC Hepatitis B Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) and CDC hepatitis B surveillance and prevention guidance. For the full official Vaccine Information Statement,click here.