Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a common disease in the United States. The good news is that the hepatitis B vaccine gives more than 90% protection to people who get the vaccine.

There are 2 vaccines that protect against hepatitis B:

  • The hepatitis B vaccine protects infants, children, and adults from hepatitis B
  • The hepatitis A and B combination vaccine protects adults from both hepatitis B and hepatitis A 

Frequently Asked Questions

Because of the vaccine, cases of acute (short-term) hepatitis B have decreased by a lot in the United States. But chronic (long-term) hepatitis B is still common — up to 2.2 million people in the United States have it. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious liver problems — and even death.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by a virus. There are 2 types of hepatitis B:

  • Acute (short-term) hepatitis B
  • Chronic (long-term) hepatitis B

Many children who get acute hepatitis B don’t have any symptoms, but most adults do. Symptoms may include:

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Upset stomach and throwing up
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dark pee or clay-colored poop
  • Pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach
  • Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)

Acute hepatitis B symptoms usually last a few weeks — but they can last as long as 6 months.

If the acute hepatitis B infection does not go away after 6 months, it’s considered a chronic hepatitis B infection. Most people who have chronic hepatitis B don’t have symptoms at first. But chronic hepatitis B is a lifelong illness that can lead to serious — and possibly deadly — liver problems, like:

  • Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
  • Liver cancer
  • Liver failure

Hepatitis B spreads through blood, semen, or other body fluids. Hepatitis B can spread from mother to child during birth — and when someone:

  • Has sex with a person who has hepatitis B
  • Shares drug needles with a person who has hepatitis B
  • Shares a razor or toothbrush with a person who has hepatitis B
  • Touches the blood or open sores of a person who has hepatitis B

Learn more about hepatitis B.

All children and most adults need to get the hepatitis B vaccine.

Infants and children

All children need to get the hepatitis B vaccine as part of their routine vaccine schedule.

Children need 3 doses of the vaccine at the following ages:

  • Birth for the first dose
  • 1 through 2 months for the second dose
  • 6 through 18 months for the third dose

Unvaccinated children younger than 19 years also need to get the hepatitis B vaccine. Talk with your child’s doctor about a catch-up shot.

See the routine vaccination schedule for:

Adults

All adults aged 19 through 59 years, and 60 years and older with risk factors for hepatitis B should get the hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine is given in 3 doses. The second dose is given 1 month after the first dose, followed by a third dose 6 months after the second dose.

You may be at risk for hepatitis B if you:

  • Have diabetes
  • Have sex or live with someone who has hepatitis B
  • Have sex with more than 1 partner
  • Have an STD (sexually transmitted disease)
  • Are a man who has sex with men
  • Use drugs with needles
  • Could come into contact with blood at work (like in health care)
  • Get hemodialysis treatment for kidney problems
  • Travel to countries where hepatitis B is common
  • Have hepatitis C
  • Have a chronic liver disease
  • Have HIV
  • Are incarcerated

If you’re age 18 and older and at risk for both hepatitis B and hepatitis A, you may be able to get a combination vaccine that protects against both diseases. You may be at risk for both diseases if you:

  • Are traveling to certain countries where hepatitis B is common
  • Are a man who has sex with men
  • Use drugs

Talk with your doctor about how to protect your family from hepatitis B.

Some people should not get the hepatitis B vaccine — or may need to wait to get it. Be sure to tell your doctor before getting vaccinated if you:

  • Have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the hepatitis A vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine 
  • Are sick

Side effects are usually mild and go away in a few days. They may include:

  • Soreness or redness where the shot was given
  • Fever

Serious side effects from the hepatitis B vaccine are very rare.

Like any medicine, there's a very small chance that the hepatitis B vaccine could cause a serious reaction. Keep in mind that getting the hepatitis B vaccine is much safer than getting hepatitis B. Learn more about vaccine side effects.

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) have detailed information about recommended vaccines.

Get vaccinated

Getting vaccinated is easy. Vaccines are available at the doctor’s office and many pharmacies — and most are covered by insurance.

Find out how to get vaccinated.

Content created by Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)
Content last reviewed