Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations                  
Immunization
  Vaccine Basics
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vaccines by Disease
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Who and When
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Get Vaccinated
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Get Involved
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      About Us

              

    



Breadcrumb
    HHS
                              Immunization Information for You and Your Loved Ones
                              Vaccines by Disease
                              Hepatitis B


    

    

    Navigate to:
  Immunization Highlights
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Vaccine Basics
                                            
            
            Vaccine Ingredients
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Vaccine Safety
                          
            
            Vaccine Side Effects
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Vaccine Types
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Vaccines Work
                          
            
            Vaccines Protect You
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Vaccines Protect Your Community
    
                                                  
                                                                                        
                          
      
      
      
      Vaccines by Disease
                                            
            
            Chickenpox (Varicella)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Cholera
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      COVID-19
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Diphtheria
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Flu (Influenza)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Hepatitis A
    
                                                  
                                                                  
                          
      
      
      
      Hepatitis B
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Japanese Encephalitis (JE)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Measles
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Meningococcal
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Mpox (Formerly Monkeypox)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Mumps
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Pneumococcal
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Polio
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Rabies
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Rotavirus
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Rubella (German Measles)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Tetanus (Lockjaw)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Typhoid Fever
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Yellow Fever
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Who and When
                                            
            
            Infants, Children, and Teens
                          
            
            Infants and Children Birth Through Age 6
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Preteens and Teens Ages 7 Through 18
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Adults
                          
            
            Adults Ages 19 Through 26
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Adults Ages 27 Through 64
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Adults Age 65 and Older
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Pregnant Women
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Travelers
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      People with Health Conditions
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Health Care Workers
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Gay or Bisexual Men
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Military Members
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Get Vaccinated
                                            
            
            How to Pay
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      What to Expect - for Adults
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      What to Expect - for Parents
                          
            
            Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Where to Go
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Get Involved
                                            
            
            Explore Vaccination in Your Community
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Spread the Word!
                          
            
            Graphics
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Widgets and Web Badges
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Toolkits
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Get More Information
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      About UsLanguages
      English
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Español (Spanish)Text resize icon

                    




Hepatitis B








  
  
    

  
      



Hepatitis B is a common disease in the United States. The good news is that the hepatitis B vaccine gives 80% to 100%   protection to people who get the vaccine.

There are seven vaccines available in the United States that protect against hepatitis B:

**HepB-only vaccines:**

Engerix-B protects infants, children, and adults from hepatitis B
	Heplisav-B protects adults from hepatitis B
	PreHevbrio protects adults from hepatitis B
	Recombivax HB protects infants, children, and adults from hepatitis B**Combination vaccines:**

Pediarix protects infants and young children from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and polio
	Vaxelis protects infants and young children from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib disease, and hepatitis B
	Twinrix protects adults from hepatitis A and hepatitis B
                        Why is the hepatitis B vaccine important?
    Because of the vaccine, cases of acute (short-term) hepatitis B have decreased by a lot in the United States. But chronic (long-term) hepatitis B is still common — up to 2.2 million people in the United States have it. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious liver problems — and even death.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent hepatitis B.
      What is hepatitis B?
    Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by a virus. There are 2 types of hepatitis B:

Acute (short-term) hepatitis B
	Chronic (long-term) hepatitis BMany children who get **acute hepatitis B** don’t have any symptoms, but most adults do. Symptoms may include:

Fever
	Fatigue
	Upset stomach and throwing up
	Loss of appetite
	Dark pee or clay-colored poop
	Pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach
	Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)Acute hepatitis B symptoms usually last a few weeks — but they can last as long as 6 months.

If the acute hepatitis B infection does not go away after 6 months, it’s considered a **chronic hepatitis B** infection. Most people who have chronic hepatitis B don’t have symptoms at first. But chronic hepatitis B is a lifelong illness that can lead to serious — and possibly deadly — liver problems, like:

Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
	Liver cancer
	Liver failureHepatitis B spreads through blood, semen, or other body fluids. Hepatitis B can spread from mother to child during birth — and when someone:

Has sex with a person who has hepatitis B
	Shares drug needles with a person who has hepatitis B
	Shares a razor or toothbrush with a person who has hepatitis B
	Touches the blood or open sores of a person who has hepatitis BLearn more about hepatitis B.
      Who needs to get the hepatitis B vaccine?
    All children and most adults need to get the hepatitis B vaccine.

Infants and children

All children need to get the hepatitis B vaccine as part of their routine vaccine schedule.

Children need 3 doses of the vaccine at the following ages:

**Birth** for the first dose
	**1 through 2 months** for the second dose
	**6 through 18 months** for the third doseUnvaccinated children younger than 19 years also need to get the hepatitis B vaccine. Talk with your child’s doctor about a catch-up shot.

See the **routine vaccination schedule** for:

Infants and children
	Adults

Adults

All adults aged 19 through 59 years, and 60 years and older with risk factors for hepatitis B should get the hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine is given in 3 doses. The second dose is given 1 month after the first dose, followed by a third dose 6 months after the second dose.

You may be at risk for hepatitis B if you:

Have diabetes
	Have sex or live with someone who has hepatitis B
	Have sex with more than 1 partner
	Have an STD (sexually transmitted disease)
	Are a man who has sex with men
	Use drugs with needles
	Could come into contact with blood at work (like in health care)
	Get hemodialysis treatment for kidney problems
	Travel to countries where hepatitis B is common
	Have hepatitis C
	Have a chronic liver disease
	Have HIV
	Are incarceratedIf you’re age 18 and older and at risk for both hepatitis B and hepatitis A, you may be able to get a combination vaccine that protects against both diseases. You may be at risk for both diseases if you:

Are traveling to certain countries where hepatitis B is common
	Are a man who has sex with men
	Use drugsTalk with your doctor about how to protect your family from hepatitis B.
      Who should not get the hepatitis B vaccine?
    Some people should not get the hepatitis B vaccine — or may need to wait to get it. Be sure to tell your doctor before getting vaccinated if you:

Have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the hepatitis A vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine
	Are sick
      What are the side effects of the hepatitis B vaccine?
    Side effects are usually mild and go away in a few days. They may include:

Soreness or redness where the shot was given
	FeverSerious side effects from the hepatitis B vaccine are very rare.

Like any medicine, there's a very small chance that the hepatitis B vaccine could cause a serious reaction. Keep in mind that getting the hepatitis B vaccine is much safer than getting hepatitis B. Learn more about vaccine side effects.
      Where can I get more information about the hepatitis B vaccine?
    Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) have detailed information about recommended vaccines.

Read the VIS for the hepatitis B vaccine
	Find the VIS for the hepatitis B vaccine in other languages

                    
  


Get Immunized

Getting immunized is easy. Vaccines and preventive antibodies are available at the doctor’s office or pharmacies — and are usually covered by insurance.

Find out how to get protected.







  Content created by Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) Content last reviewed October 24, 2023Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​