How can you protect yourself against hepatitis B?

There is a vaccine that protects you from getting hepatitis B. You get it in three different shots. Most people who get these shots develop antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your body makes to fight certain diseases. These antibodies will protect you against hepatitis B. If you already got vaccinated or if you are not sure, talk with your doctor (or health care provider). Your health care provider can check to see if you have antibodies against hepatitis B.

High-risk behaviors are things that some people do that make them more likely to get a disease. You can get hepatitis B through contact with (or by touching) the blood of a person who has the disease. You can also get hepatitis B through contact with other body fluids like semen and vaginal fluids. For example, you can get hepatitis B by having sex or sharing needles with a person who has the disease.

If you can stop high-risk behaviors like these, it can also prevent you from getting other viruses like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and hepatitis C virus. Please speak with your doctor or nurse to get more information about these viruses.