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
- About hepatitis B and hepatitis B vaccination
[39KB - 2 pages] (compliant) Feb 2008
Parent's Guide to Childhood Immunization - Pictures of Hepatitis B
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - What if we stopped vaccinating for this disease?
- CDC en Español! - Hepatitis
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.
- Hepatitis B Vaccine: Fact Sheet
- Hepatitis B: Make Sure Your Child is Fully Vaccinated October 2008
- As an adult, do I need this vaccine?
(19 years and older) 
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.
There is no confirmed evidence which indicates that hepatitis B vaccine can cause chronic illnesses.
- Hair Loss and Vaccines
- 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.
- Hepatitis
B Vaccine: Fact Sheet
Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Hepatitis B
- Pink Book's chapter on Hepatitis B [674KB - 24 pages] (compliant)
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Ask the Experts: Hepatitis B
CDC experts answer your clinical questions (Immunization Action Coalition) - NIPINFO answers your questions about Hep B
- 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
- Package inserts
(Comvax, Engerix-B, Pediarix, Recombivax HB, Twinrix, and more package inserts...) NEW Feb 2010
- Standing Orders
Hepatitis B and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Hepatitis B - Frequently Asked Questions
- Hep B and Moms to Be [4.50MB - 2 pages]
- Perinatal Hepatitis B Coordinator Resource Center
- HIPAA and perinatal hepatitis B prevention
- Resources for clinicians
- 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 [68KB - 1 page]
Posted July 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 guidelines
- Contraindications
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
References and Resources
- Hepatitis B related-MMWR reports
- Pink Book's chapter on Hepatitis B [674KB - 24 pages] (compliant)
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance manual's chapter on Hepatitis B August 2008
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance Forms, Disease Burden Data & Publications
- Hepatitis A & B Vaccines
- Travelers Health: Yellow Book
- Hepatitis websites listed by state
- Admission Orders for Labor & Delivery and Newborn Units to Prevent
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Transmission [119KB - 2 pages] - National Hepatitis B Initiative for Asian
Americans/Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders
Provider Education
- 2009 Clinical education slide set
[PPT - 212KB] Updated May 2009
from the 11th edition "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" course - Newsletter from IAC "Hep Express"
Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) - Cases of Harm Resulting from Missed Birth Dose [61KB - 1 page]
- "Your
patient is relying on YOU to protect her baby
from hepatitis B" [140KB - 2 pages] (brochure for physicians)
Source: Ohio Department of Health Immunization Program - Podcasts on Hepatitis B
Materials for Patients
- CDC patient materials (brochures, posters, etc.)
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- CDC Educational materials
- Hepatitis Awareness Month
- Hep B and Moms to Be [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 [73KB - 1 page]
From the Immunization Action Coalition - Protect yourself against hepatitis A and hepatitis B: Guide for gay and bisexual men
- CDC en Español! - Hepatitis
- Patient
materials and more resources from IAC
- Stories of people who suffered or died from hepatitis B virus infection
- Hepatitis B: Questions and Answers [80KB - 7 pages]
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (www.vaccineinformation.org) Dated 5/08 - Hepatitis B - Las vacunas y las enfermedades que previenen (Spanish materials)
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This page last modified on February 4, 2010
Content last reviewed on April 22, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases