Hepatitis B: Make Sure Your Child is Fully Vaccinated

Check your child's medical records to see whether he or she has already received hepatitis B vaccine. If not, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B can affect anyone. Before routine hepatitis B vaccinations for children, more than 200,000 people of all ages were infected with the virus each year in the U.S. Some people who get infected never get rid of the virus and can develop cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver or liver cancer. Each year, about 3,000–5,000 people will die from hepatitis B.

Good News

The good news is that a vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis B, and it is strongly endorsed by medical and public health experts as safe and effective. All children 0-18 years of age should receive the hepatitis B vaccine series. (Many states require hepatitis B vaccination before day care or school entry.)" to: "(Many states require hepatitis B vaccination before children start day care or school.) Visit the Immunization Action Coalition Web site to see a list of hepatitis B vaccination requirements by state. (This list is also available in Spanish.)

Most children receive the three-dose vaccine series as infants, with the first vaccination recommended at birth. Check your child's medical records to see whether he or she has already received hepatitis B vaccine, or ask your pediatrician.

It's also important to remember that the hepatitis B vaccine is not just for children. Adults at high risk of hepatitis B infection should talk to a doctor as soon as possible about getting the vaccine.

For families with health insurance, all or most of the cost of vaccines is usually covered. Children age 18 and younger may be eligible to get vaccines for free through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program if they are: Medicaid eligible, uninsured, or an American Indian or Alaska Native. Doctors can charge a fee to give each shot, but VFC vaccines cannot be denied to an eligible child if the family cannot afford the fee. To learn more about the VFC program, visit the Web site at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/ or contact your State VFC Coordinator. To learn more about the VFC program, visit the Web site or contact your state VFC coordinator. (A list of VFC coordinators is available at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/contacts.htm.)