U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Hepatitis B Vaccine:

What You Need to Know

Many vaccine information statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

1. Why get vaccinated?

Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B. 

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can cause mild 

illness lasting a few weeks, or it can lead to a serious, 

lifelong illness. 

 Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that can 

lead to 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 illness that 

occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a 

person’s body. Most people who go on to develop 

chronic hepatitis B do not have symptoms, but it 

is still very serious and can lead to liver damage 

(cirrhosis), liver cancer, and death. Chronically 

infected people can spread hepatitis B virus 

to others, even if they do not feel or look sick 

themselves.

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other 

body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters 

the body of a person who is not infected. People can 

become infected through:

 Birth (if a pregnant person has hepatitis B, their 

baby can become infected)

 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 needlesticks or other sharp 

instruments

Most people who are vaccinated with hepatitis B 

vaccine are immune for life.

2. Hepatitis B vaccine

Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given as 2, 3, or 4 shots.

Infants should get their first dose of hepatitis B 

vaccine at birth and will usually complete the series 

at 6–18 months of age. The birth dose of hepatitis B 

vaccine is an important part of preventing longterm illness in infants and the spread of hepatitis B 

in the United States.

Anyone 59 years of age or younger who has not yet 

gotten the vaccine should be vaccinated.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for adults 

60 years or older at increased risk of exposure to 

hepatitis B who were not vaccinated previously. 

Adults 60 years or older who are not at increased 

risk and were not vaccinated in the past may also be 

vaccinated.

Hepatitis B vaccine may be given as a stand-alone 

vaccine, or as part of a combination vaccine (a type 

of vaccine that combines more than one vaccine 

together into one shot).

Hepatitis B vaccine may be given at the same time as 

other vaccines.

3. Talk with your health care 

provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting 

the vaccine:

 Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose 

of hepatitis B vaccine, or has any severe, lifethreatening allergies
OFFICE 

USE 

ONLY

In some cases, your health care provider may 

decide to postpone hepatitis B vaccination until a 

future visit.

Pregnant or breastfeeding people who were not 

vaccinated previously should be vaccinated. 

Pregnancy or breastfeeding are not reasons to avoid 

hepatitis B vaccination. 

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be 

vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill 

should usually wait until they recover before getting 

hepatitis B vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more 

information.

4. Risks of a vaccine reaction

 Soreness where the shot is given, fever, headache, 

and fatigue (feeling tired) can happen after 

hepatitis B vaccination.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, 

including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel 

dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance 

of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other 

serious injury, or death.

5. What if there is a serious 

problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated 

person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a 

severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face 

and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, 

dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person 

to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health 

care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine 

Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your 

health care provider will usually file this report, or 

you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS 

is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff 

members do not give medical advice.

6. The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines. Claims regarding alleged injury or 

death due to vaccination have a time limit for filing, 

which may be as short as two years. Visit the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation or 

call 1-800-338-2382 to learn about the program and 

about filing a claim. 

7. How can I learn more?

 Ask your health care provider. 

 Call your local or state health department.

 Visit the website of the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for vaccine package inserts 

and additional information at www.fda.gov/

vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines

 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

-Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

-Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Vaccine Information Statement (Interim)

Hepatitis B Vaccine

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

05/12/2023