What is Hepatitis B (Hep B)?
- Hepatitis B (Hep B) is a viral infection that causes swelling in the liver.
- Some people infected with Hep B experience a short-term illness, also called acute Hep B. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice, and pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach.
- Acute Hep B can lead to chronic Hep B, a long-term illness that can cause liver damage, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. 90% of newborns and babies infected with Hep B will develop chronic Hep B. Chronic Hep B is fully preventable through vaccination, which infants can receive at birth.
Hep B Transmission
- A person with Hep B can pass the infection to another person through blood and other bodily fluids:
- Infants can contract Hep B during birth if the parent giving birth has Hep B.
- A person may contract Hep B if they share razors, toothbrushes, and needles with a person who has Hep B, if they come into contact with the blood of a person who has Hep B, or if they have sex with someone who has Hep B.
Hep B Vaccination
- The Hep B vaccine is available to anyone ages 59 or younger, as well as to people ages 60 and older who are at an increased risk of Hep B exposure and were not vaccinated previously. Most people who receive the Hep B vaccine are immune for life, and most people do not need a booster dose of the Hep B vaccine later in life.
- Infants, babies, and children who contract Hep B are 80-85% more likely to experience chronic Hep B and its severe symptoms than adults who contract Hep B. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants receive their first dose of the Hep B vaccine at birth, followed by a second dose at one to two months old and a third dose at six to 18 months old.
Note: As of December 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that parents who test negative for Hep B engage in individual-based decision-making before their baby receives the birth dose of the Hep B vaccine. Individual-based decision-making, also known as shared decision-making, is a conversation between a patient and a healthcare professional to help inform treatment plans. As with all vaccines, making an independent decision about whether to get your child the Hep B vaccine, with support from a healthcare professional as desired, has always been a part of the vaccination process in the United States.
ACIP also recommends that parents ask their healthcare professionals about getting their child an antibody blood test before they receive the second and/or third doses of the Hep B vaccine. However, these tests cannot reliably report whether a child has long-term protection against Hep B after one dose of the vaccine. These tests also require additional infant blood draws and potentially higher costs for families, without a guarantee that they will provide useful information.
Many public health experts have expressed concerns that this ACIP recommendation, which lacks evidence, will unnecessarily delay or otherwise hinder access to the Hep B vaccine for some infants, which could put them at higher risk of infection and the lifelong impacts of such infection. PHCC’s resources on Hep B recommend following the AAP’s recommendations because they are accurate, scientifically rigorous, and timely.
Hep B Treatment
- If you or your child are experiencing Hep B symptoms, are at high risk for Hep B, or believe you were exposed to Hep B, contact a healthcare professional. They can recommend treatment based on your age, vaccination status, and other factors.
