What Is the Hepatitis B Vaccine?
A vaccine is a drug that you take when you are healthy that keeps you from getting sick. Vaccines teach your body to attack certain viruses, like the
hepatitis B virus. Vaccination is the best way to prevent a
hepatitis B infection along with its serious consequences, which can include hepatocellular carcinoma (
liver cancer).
The hepatitis B vaccine is sold under the following brand names:
Candidates for Vaccination
Anyone 18 years of age or younger should be vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus.
In addition, you may need the hepatitis B vaccine if you over the age of 18 and:
- Have a chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis C
- Live in, or were born in, areas where hepatitis B is common
- Inject drugs
- Have a sex partner who has hepatitis B or have multiple sex partners
- Are a man who has sex with other men
- Share a household with someone who has hepatitis B
- Work in a high-risk profession, especially if you are in the military or are a healthcare worker, emergency worker, police officer, firefighter, or mortician
- Are an international traveler
- Are in prison
- Receive blood products or are on hemodialysis.
Certain ethnic groups have higher rates of hepatitis B virus infection. You may need the hepatitis B vaccine if you are:
- African American
- Latino
- Native American
- Haitian
- Alaskan Native
- Vietnamese
- Chinese
- Korean
- Filipino.
Who Should Not Get the Vaccine? Who Should Wait to Get It?
- If you have had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of hepatitis B vaccine.
- If you have had a severe (life-threatening) allergy to any vaccine component or to baker's yeast (the kind used to make bread). Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
If you are moderately or severely ill at the time you are scheduled to receive the shot, you should wait until you have recovered before getting the hepatitis B vaccine. If you are ill, ask your doctor or nurse whether you should receive the vaccine. People with a mild illness can usually get it.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. The safety of the hepatitis B vaccine for pregnant women has not been determined; however, there is no evidence that it is harmful to either pregnant women or their unborn babies. The risk, if any, is thought to be very low.
How Is the Hepatitis B Vaccine Given?
There are a few different dosing schedules for this vaccine. The complete schedule consists of two for four injections, depending on the brand of vaccine and the age of the individual being vaccinated.
People who are infected with another virus, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (
HIV), or who have problems with their immune system, may need extra boosters of the hepatitis B vaccine.
Babies should get the first dose while still in the hospital, shortly after being born. For babies born to infected mothers, this first dose is especially important and should be given within 12 hours after birth.
Older children, adolescents, or adults can get their first shot anytime.
How Long Does the Hepatitis B Vaccine Protect You?
Recent studies show that after receiving the
hepatitis B vaccine, you will be protected for at least 23 years.
Booster doses of hepatitis B vaccine are not recommended routinely for people who are not immune compromised. Data show that vaccine-induced anti-HBs levels might decline over time; however, immune memory remains intact indefinitely following immunization. Immune-competent people with declining antibody levels are still protected against clinical illness and chronic disease.
There are very few side effects from the hepatitis B vaccine. The most common side effects are soreness where you got the shot and fatigue.
You will not get hepatitis B from the vaccine.
Combination Hepatitis A and B Vaccine
Twinrix
® is a vaccine for both
hepatitis A and hepatitis B. It combines two FDA-approved vaccines --
Havrix®, for hepatitis A; and
Engerix-B®, for hepatitis B. It protects individuals 18 years of age or older against diseases caused by hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses.
The vaccine is recommended for travelers whose occupation or behavior puts them at high risk of exposure to the
hepatitis B virus, or who are visiting countries with a high or intermediate rate of both hepatitis viruses, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin
If you know you were recently exposed to the hepatitis B virus, you may get protection from a shot of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) within 24 hours after your exposure. This will protect you for three to six months, but it is also strongly recommended that you begin the three-shot hepatitis B vaccine series within seven days of your exposure.
