VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT
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
U.S. Department of
Health and Human Service
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
Hepatitis B Vaccine:
What You Need to Know
1
Why get vaccinated?
HepatitisB vaccine can prevent hepatitisB.
HepatitisB is a liver disease that can cause mild
illness lasting a few weeks, or it can lead to a serious,
lifelong illness.
Acute hepatitisB infection 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 hepatitisB infection is a long-term
illness that occurs when the hepatitisB virus
remains in a person’s body. Most people who go
on to develop chronic hepatitisB 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 hepatitisB
virus to others, even if they do not feel or look sick
themselves.
HepatitisB is spread when blood, semen, or other
body uid infected with the hepatitisB virus enters
the body of a person who is not infected. People can
become infected through:
Birth (if a mother has hepatitisB, her 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 hepatitisB
vaccine are immune for life.
2
Hepatitis B vaccine
HepatitisB vaccine is usually given as 2, 3, or 4 shots.
Infants should get their rst dose of hepatitisB
vaccine at birth and will usually complete the series
at 6 months of age (sometimes it will take longer
than 6 months to complete the series).
Children and adolescents younger than 19 years of
age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also
be vaccinated.
HepatitisB vaccine is also recommended for certain
unvaccinated adults:
People whose sex partners have hepatitisB
Sexually active persons who are not in a long-term
monogamous relationship
Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for a
sexually transmitted disease
Men who have sexual contact with other men
People who share needles, syringes, or other drug-
injection equipment
People who have household contact with someone
infected with the hepatitisB virus
Health care and public safety workers at risk for
exposure to blood or body uids
Residents and sta of facilities for developmentally
disabled persons
Persons in correctional facilities
Victims of sexual assault or abuse
Travelers to regions with increased rates of
hepatitisB
People with chronic liver disease, kidney disease,
HIV infection, infection with hepatitis C, or
diabetes
Anyone who wants to be protected from hepatitisB
HepatitisB vaccine may be given at the same time as
other vaccines.