Hep B Vaccines and Boosters: What you need to know!

With the ever-increasing global emphasis on the importance of vaccinations as the pandemic evolves, it would be a good time to revisit your vaccine status—not only for COVID-19, but also for other preventable diseases like hepatitis, tinnitus, and HPV. Vaccination for hepatitis—like vaccines for COVID-19—is a series of shots in two-, three-, and four-dose vaccine schedules, depending on a person’s age. A combination vaccine against hepatitis B (or hep B) and other diseases is also available. In fact, a recent study shows that having a booster shot for hep B reinforces the antibody levels. So, if you’re not sure about your B (or hep B) vaccination and booster status, here’s a reminder of why and when to get them.

A quick step back: What is hep B?

Hep B is a viral infection of the liver, which spreads from the transfer of bodily fluids from an infected person. Hep B can be transmitted from mother to baby at birth or through sexual contact or sharing needles, syringes, or even used razor blades. If left undiagnosed, hep B can lead to more severe liver diseases including liver cancer.

Several vaccines are available for hepatitis B. These are given as a series of shots or boosters to ensure their full efficacy. Boosters are additional doses of the vaccine that are given to improve immune memory and protection against the virus.

The first vaccine dose — or the primary dose — is recommended in the first year of life. Studies have shown that this vaccine provides protection for 90% of the population for 30 years. According to the CDC, people who fit the criteria below should get the hep B vaccine:

• All newborns before hospital discharge.
• Infants born to hepatitis B-positive women.
• All children and adolescents who were not previously vaccinated.
• Children born in the U.S. to individuals born in a country with high hepatitis B prevalence.
• Sex partners of hepatitis B-positive persons
• Sexually active persons who are not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship (e.g., persons with more than one sex partner during the previous 6 months)
• Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually-transmitted disease
• Men who have sex with men
• Persons who inject drugs
• Household contacts of hepatitis B-positive persons
• International travelers to regions with high or intermediate rates of endemic hepatitis B infection
• Health care and public safety workers that may be exposed to blood, or blood-contaminated body fluids
• Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons, corrections facilities, and other facilities that serve adults at risk for hepatitis B infection
• Persons with end-stage renal disease, including pre-dialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients
• Persons with chronic liver disease
• Persons up to age 60 years with diabetes
• Persons with HIV infection
• All other persons seeking protection from hepatitis B infection.

The first vaccine dose—particularly those given birth—may not provide adequate lifelong antibody levels. Notably, a 2020 study, which investigated the long-term protection of vaccines, has shown that getting a booster vaccine at age 18 years reinforces antibody levels for at least 4 more years. The researchers compared the hep B virus antibody levels of 381 healthcare students who were vaccinated against hep B during their first year of life (primary group) with those of participants who were vaccinated and received a booster at age 18 years (boosted group) 4 years earlier. They found that the majority (over 80%) in the boosted group had adequate antibody levels compared with only 41.3% from the primary group.

The study authors concluded that the primary hep B vaccine given at birth “does not necessarily provide lifelong adequate antibody levels” and recommended hep B vaccine boosters to all those who are at higher risk.

This study is yet another evidence-based call to Screen. Vaccinate. Don’t hesitate.

Get another level of protection by getting screened, vaccinated, and boosted against hep B!

To learn more about the CDC hepatitis vaccination, click here

To read the details of the hep B booster study, click here

To explore more ways to protect your liver, visit our blog

To check out ADRLF’s TOP TEN Facts on Vaccine Safety, visit our website