Hepatitis B

Why vaccinate adults against hepatitis B?

• Hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death.
• Hepatitis B is incurable.  A safe, effective vaccine has been available since the 1980s.  A three-shot series will protect and contribute to the elimination of this highly infectious disease.
• Up to 1.4 million Americans have chronic HBV infection.
• Hepatitis B is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV.

• Any sexually active adult who is not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship.
• People with diabetes age 19 through 59 years.
• Those with close household contact with an infected person.
• Adults who share needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment.
• Hepatitis B vaccine is available alone or in a combination with hepatitis A vaccine.
• View a full list of adults who need hepatitis B vaccine.

• Some people who get hepatitis B infection have health problems in the first six months including loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and joint pain. Jaundice is another common symptom that causes the whites of the eyes to turn yellow.
• In some people, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic (long-term) and can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and even death.Hepatitis A can cause varying symptoms, but most often causes fever, tiredness, appetite loss, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea, and dark urine.

• The hepatitis B vaccine prevents infection with hepatitis B virus, which causes liver cancer.
• The hepatitis B virus is 100 times more infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
• Once infected, there is no specific treatment for hepatitis B and the medicines currently available will only work for some people.
• Immunization is the best way to avoid hepatitis B infection.