U.S. Department of
Health and Human Service
s
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 uid 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 rst dose of hepatitisB
vaccine at birth and will usually complete the series
at 6–18 months of age. e birth dose of hepatitisB
vaccine is an important part of preventing long-
term 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 aer a previous dose
of hepatitisB vaccine, or has any severe, life-
threatening 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 aer
hepatitisB vaccination.
People sometimes faint aer 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 aer the vaccinated
person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a
severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face
and throat, diculty 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 le 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 sta
members do not give medical advice.
6. The National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program
e 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 ling,
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 ling 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