Yes. There is a safe and effective vaccine for hepatitis B, and it’s a standard part of routine immunization in many countries.

Quick Scoop: Is there a hepatitis B vaccine?

  • There is a preventive (prophylactic) hepatitis B vaccine used worldwide for babies, children, and adults.
  • It protects against hepatitis B virus, which can cause chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
  • In many places, it is part of the routine childhood schedule and is also recommended for unvaccinated adults, especially those at higher risk.

How the hepatitis B vaccine works

The vaccine trains your immune system to recognize the hepatitis B virus so it can fight it off before it causes infection.

  • It uses purified pieces of the virus surface (HBsAg), not a live virus, so it cannot give you hepatitis B.
  • After the full series, more than 90% of healthy people develop protective antibodies.

Types and dose schedules

Several brands and schedules exist; your clinic chooses based on age and risk.

Common options:

  • 3‑dose series: Traditional vaccines (like Engerix‑B, Recombivax HB) at 0, 1, and 6 months for many age groups.
  • 2‑dose series (adults ≥18): Heplisav‑B, usually given one month apart, can be more convenient and may give stronger responses in some people.
  • Combination vaccine: Twinrix combines hepatitis A and B for adults.

Infants and children:

  • Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all infants and for children and teens who missed it when younger.
  • Recent guidance in early 2026 allows delaying the first dose to 2 months for infants born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B, while infants of mothers who are positive or whose status is unknown still get a birth‑dose.

Adults:

  • Recommended for all adults 19–59, and adults 60+ with risk factors (for example, certain medical conditions, occupational exposure, travel, or sexual exposure).

Safety and side effects

Hepatitis B vaccines have been used for decades and have a strong safety record.

Typical reactions:

  • Sore arm at the injection site
  • Mild fatigue or low‑grade fever

Serious side effects are rare; your provider will check for allergies or reasons you should not receive a specific brand.

“Therapeutic” hepatitis B vaccines (for people who already have HBV)

  • The standard hepatitis B vaccine prevents infection but does not cure chronic hepatitis B once you have it.
  • Research is ongoing into therapeutic vaccines (such as a candidate called TherVacB) aimed at helping the immune system clear chronic infection, but these are still in clinical trials and not yet routine treatment.

Simple example

If someone has never been vaccinated and is at risk (for example, healthcare work, multiple partners, or travel to a high‑prevalence country), a doctor might recommend a 2‑dose Heplisav‑B schedule over one month or a classic 3‑dose series over six months, after which blood tests may be used in higher‑risk people to confirm protection.

Bottom line

  • Yes, there is a vaccine for hepatitis B.
  • It is widely available, safe, and strongly recommended for infants, children, and most adults.
  • If you are unsure of your status, talk to a healthcare professional about getting tested and starting or completing the vaccine series.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.