The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and >95% effective in preventing HBV infection. Hepatitis B vaccination involves a series of 3 shots given over 6 months and can provide lifelong immunity against HBV. The hepatitis B vaccine is so effective at preventing HBV and liver cancer that the World Health Organization has declared it the world’s first “anti-cancer vaccine.” The usual schedule is as follows:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends hepatitis B vaccination for all infants at birth and previously un-vaccinated children up to 18 years of age.

Additionally, adult immunization is recommended for:

• Anyone seeking protection from the HBV infection
• Healthcare and public safety workers
• Household, sex, or needle-sharing contacts of persons infected with HBV
• Intravenous drug users
• Those with more than one sex partner
• Men who have sex with men
• Those infected with HIV and/or other sexually transmitted diseases
• Those with end-stage renal disease or chronic liver disease
• Travelers to regions where hepatitis B is common (Asia, Africa, South America, the Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East)