Hepatitis B Vaccine Administration

What to know

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination among all infants at birth, unvaccinated children younger than 19 years of age, adults aged 19–59 years, and adults aged 60 years and older with risk factors for hepatitis B or without identified risk factors but seeking protection.

A doctor placing a vaccine in a patient's shoulder

Who should be vaccinated

ACIP recommends that the following people should receive hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination:

  • All infants.
  • Unvaccinated children younger than 19 years of age.
  • Adults 19–59 years.
  • Adults 60 years and older with risk factors for hepatitis B.

The following groups may also receive HepB vaccination:

  • Adults 60 years and older without known risk factors for hepatitis B.

Recommendations for screening, testing, and vaccination

The table below provides recommendations for screening, testing, and vaccination for adults and all persons with risk. Testing should not be a barrier to vaccination of susceptible people, especially in populations that have less engagement with or access to health care. In settings where testing is not feasible or is refused by the patient, the clinician should offer vaccination and, at future visits, should offer testing again.

Population 

Screening and testing recommendation

Vaccination recommendation 

Adults with no known risk factors for hepatitis B

  • If never previously screened, test for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and total anti-HBc (triple panel)
  • Vaccinate § adults aged 19 – 59 years

People with risk factors, regardless of age.*

  • If never previously screened, test for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and total anti-HBc (triple panel) 
    • Unless less than aged 18 years and completed a vaccine series as an infant 
  • If previously screened, but still unvaccinated, offer testing to people who have ongoing risk for exposure 
  • Vaccinate § 

People with additional risk factors, such as:

  • Residents and staff of facilities for people with developmental disabilities 
  • Health care and public safety personnel with reasonably anticipated risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids 
  • People with diabetes at the discretion of the treating clinician 
  • International travelers to countries with high or intermediate levels of endemic hepatitis B virus infection 
  • If never previously screened, test for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and total anti-HBc (triple panel)
    • Unless less than aged 18 years and completed a vaccine series as an infant 
  • Vaccinate† §

* For additional considerations for patients on dialysis, see Footnote AA .

† For additional considerations for healthcare personnel see Footnote BB.

§ Vaccinate susceptible persons without documentation of a completed hepatitis B vaccination series; testing should not be a barrier to vaccination.

For testing recommendations and assistance interpreting B screening results, see hepatitis B testing guidelines.

Composition and dosage

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed three single-antigen vaccines (Engerix-B, Heplisav-B, and Recombivax HB), one three-antigen vaccine (PreHevbrio), and three combination vaccines (Pediarix, Vaxelis, and Twinrix) to protect against hepatitis B. All vaccines contain yeast protein and aluminum adjuvant or a small synthetic immunostimulatory (Heplisav-B).

Engerix-B

People aged 19 years and younger should receive three doses. People aged 20 years and older should receive three doses. Adults on hemodialysis should receive four doses. See package insert for detailed dosage instructions.

See Also: Engerix-B Package Insert

Heplisav-B

People aged 18 years and older should receive two doses. Data on Heplisav-B are currently insufficient to inform vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy. Thus, providers should vaccinate pregnant people needing HepB vaccination with Engerix-B, Recombivax HB, or Twinrix.

See Also: Heplisav-B Package Insert

Recombivax HB

People aged 19 years and younger should receive three doses. People aged 20 years and older should receive three doses. See package insert for detailed dosage instructions.

See Also: Recombivax HB Package Insert

PreHevbrio

People aged 18 years and older should receive three doses. Data on PreHevbrio are currently insufficient to inform vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy. Providers should use Engerix-B, Recombivax HB, or Twinrix for HepB vaccinations during pregnancy.

See Also: PreHevbrio Package Insert)

Pediarix

People between 6 weeks and 6 years of age should receive three doses. See package insert for detailed dosage instructions.

See Also: Pediarix Package Insert

Vaxelis

People between 6 weeks and 4 years of age should receive three doses. See package insert for detailed dosage instructions.

See Also: Vaxelis Package Insert

Twinrix

People aged 18 years and older should receive either three or four doses. See package insert for detailed dosage instructions.

See Also: Twinrix Package Insert

Vaccine effectiveness

Each of the HepB vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection. Studies indicate that immunity persists for at least 30 years among healthy people who initiate HepB vaccination at less than 6 months of age.

Safety and precautions

Scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the safety of HepB vaccines.

As a precaution, clinicians should ask the person getting the vaccine if they've previously experienced an allergic reaction to:

  • A previous dose of HepB vaccine.
  • Any part of HepB vaccine.
  • Yeast.

People who are moderately or severely ill should wait until they recover before getting a HepB vaccine. However, administering the vaccine to people with minor illnesses, such as a cold, is fine. Learn more about contraindications and precautions.

A doctor placing a bandage over the vaccination site on a patient's shoulder
Patient getting the hepatitis B vaccine.

Reporting adverse events

The most frequently reported adverse event associated with HepB vaccination is injection site soreness. Any adverse event suspected to be associated with HepB vaccination should be reported through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

VAERS is an early warning system, co-managed by CDC and the FDA, that monitors potential vaccine safety problems. Clinicians and vaccine manufacturers are required by law to report certain adverse events following vaccination to VAERS. Patients and caregivers can also submit reports.

Administration

Clinicians should administer the vaccine intramuscularly into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh or the deltoid muscle of the upper arm, depending on the person’s age. When administering multiple vaccines, Clinicians should use different anatomic sites (e.g., separate limbs).

Concurrent administration of other vaccines

Clinicians can administer HepB vaccine concurrently with other vaccines to children and adults. There is no evidence that coadministration reduces the vaccine response or effectiveness.

Vaccine schedules

HepB vaccine can be given as a stand-alone vaccine or as part of a combination vaccine. For detailed information on HepB vaccine schedules, see immunization schedule for children or immunization schedule for adults.

Resources

Immunization schedules

Standing orders

Vaccine assistance programs

Specific sites and tools

Related pages

Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by CDC that explain both the benefits and risks of a vaccine. View the VIS for HepB vaccine.

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Content Source:
Division of Viral Hepatitis
  1. Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Infections Among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients | MMWR
  2. Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices | MMWR