Dosing for Engerix-B: An Introduction
- Your age
- Your previous vaccination history
- Your kidney function, especially if you are on dialysis.
Typical Vaccination Schedule
For most people, the standard schedule for Engerix-B consists of three doses. The second one is given one month after the first, and the third is given six months after the first. Infants can (and generally should) be given the first Engerix-B dosage shortly after birth, ideally while still in the hospital.
The standard dose Engerix-B for infants and children up through 10 years of age is 10 mcg/0.5 mL per injection. The standard dosage for adults is 20 mcg/1 mL per dose. For adolescents (ages 11 through 19), either 10 mcg/0.5 mL or 20 mcg/1 mL per dose may be recommended, depending on the particular schedule.
Other Engerix-B Vaccination Schedules
Your healthcare provider may recommend a slightly different vaccination schedule.
In some low-risk children and teens (over the age of five), the three injections can be given over a longer period, with a year between injections.
For people who may have been exposed to the
hepatitis B virus, or who have an especially high risk for contracting
hepatitis B, a modified vaccine schedule with an extra dose may be recommended. Typically, this modified schedule consists of an initial dose of Engerix-B plus injections at 1, 2, and 12 months after the first one.
People undergoing dialysis should receive a modified vaccine schedule consisting of 40 mcg/2 mL per dosage, with a total of four injections given.
