Hepatitis B Vaccine for Adults

(HepB/HBV Vaccine – Adult Formulation)

Protects against:

• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): Acute liver infection, chronic hepatitis, liver inflammation, jaundice, liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), cirrhosis, liver failure, death

Who should get it:

• All unvaccinated adults – recommended for universal adult vaccination
• Healthcare workers, emergency responders, and laboratory personnel
• People with multiple sexual partners or sexually transmitted infections
• Men who have sex with men
• People who inject drugs or share needles
• Household contacts and sexual partners of HBV-infected individuals
• People with chronic liver disease, kidney disease, or HIV
• Patients undergoing dialysis
• Adults with diabetes (age 19-59 years)
• Travelers to regions with high hepatitis B prevalence
• Inmates in correctional facilities
• People receiving blood products or clotting factor concentrates
• Anyone seeking protection from HBV infection

Schedule:

Standard 3-dose series:

• Dose 1: Initial visit (Day 0)
• Dose 2: 1 month after first dose
• Dose 3: 6 months after first dose

Accelerated schedule (when faster protection needed):

• 0, 1, 2 months with booster at 12 months

Alternative 2-dose schedule (Heplisav-B for adults ≥18 years):

• Dose 1: Initial visit
• Dose 2: 1 month later

Why vaccinate:

• Hepatitis B is highly contagious – 50-100 times more infectious than HIV
• Prevents acute infection that can cause severe illness and hospitalization
• 5-10% of adults infected develop chronic, lifelong infection
• Chronic infection increases liver cancer risk by 100-fold
• No cure exists for chronic hepatitis B – prevention is the only defense
• Provides long-lasting, potentially lifelong immunity
• Safe and highly effective (>90-95% protection rate)
• Protects your family and sexual partners from transmission
• Required for many healthcare and international jobs
• Prevents need for costly lifelong monitoring and treatment
• Simple series provides decades of protection
• Well-tolerated with minimal side effects

Important note:

Adults receive a higher vaccine dose than infants and children. Completing the full series is essential for maximum protection – don’t skip doses. Blood tests can confirm immunity after vaccination if needed for occupational requirements. The vaccine is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s never too late to get vaccinated – protection at any age is valuable.