The hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine is recommended for the following groups:
- All infants, starting at birth.
- All children and adolescents younger than 19 years who have not been vaccinated.
- All adults aged 19 to 59 years, regardless of risk factors.
- Adults aged 60 years and older who have risk factors for hepatitis B.
- Adults aged 60 years and older without known risk factors may also receive the vaccine if desired.
Risk factors that warrant vaccination in older adults and others include:
- People who inject drugs or live with someone who injects drugs.
- People who change sexual partners often.
- Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
- Sex workers.
- Close family members or sexual partners of someone with hepatitis B.
- People with chronic liver disease or kidney failure.
- Healthcare workers and laboratory staff with potential exposure to blood.
- Prison staff and prisoners.
- People traveling to countries with high or intermediate hepatitis B prevalence.
- Families adopting or fostering children from high-prevalence areas.
- People living or working in accommodation for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- People with weakened immune systems (e.g., HIV positive, on dialysis, transplant recipients).
- People with diabetes at the discretion of their clinician.
Vaccination is also recommended for people with ongoing risk of exposure even if previously screened but unvaccinated
. In summary, universal hepatitis B vaccination is advised from birth through age 59, with targeted vaccination for those 60 and older who have risk factors or desire protection. Vaccination is important to prevent hepatitis B infection and its complications
