Adults and children vaccinated on analternative schedulemay also need a fourth booster shot.
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How Long the Vaccine Protects Children vs. Vaccination is recommended for everyone from birth to age 59.
Some are approved for use in all age groups, while others are for adults only.
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In children, hepatitis B vaccination typically starts at 6 weeks of age.
Does the Vaccine pop in Change Anything?
When administered as recommended, all hepatitis B vaccines can afford protection from HBV for a lifetime.
None is inherently better than the other.
These are people who do not have hepatitis B but fail to develop enoughantibodiesafter vaccination to prevent infection.
It is estimated that between 5% and 10% of people vaccinated for hepatitis B are nonresponders.
Who Are Nonresponders?
People who are nonresponders characteristically havecompromised immune systems.
A Word From Verywell
The best way to prevent a hepatitis B infection is by being vaccinated.
Who Needs a Hepatitis B Booster?
If HBsAb levels are ever found to be low, a hep B booster dose would be given.
This accelerated vaccine schedule is commonly performed with Engerix-B, Twinrix, or Heplisav B.
Those given Heplisav B do not need a booster.
Nonresponders are identified by HBsAb testing performed one to two months after completion of the vaccination series.
The test is reserved for those who areimmune deficientor at high risk of hepatitis B exposure.
According to ACIP, they should simply continue treatment where they left off, following the schedule to completion.
HBsAb testing is also not needed.
Avoiding hepatitis B also helps you steer clear of complications of achronicinfection.
Summary
Most people vaccinated against hepatitis B do not need a booster dose.
Those who may need a booster include people on dialysis and adults or children on an accelerated vaccine schedule.
Nonresponders are typically those with compromised immune systems.
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Hepatitis B Foundation.Vaccine schedules.
Hepatitis B Foundation.What do I do if I am an hepatitis B vaccine non-responder?
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.When and how to perform post-vaccination testing: hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B Foundation.Vaccine non-responders.
Department of Health and Human Services.Viral hepatitis in the United States: data and trends.
Hepatitis B Foundation.Transmission of hepatitis B.
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