The first widely used hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccine was introduced in 1981, when the U.S. FDA approved the plasma‑derived vaccine Heptavax‑B.

Quick Scoop

  • The hepatitis B virus itself was identified in the 1960s, and experimental vaccine work followed soon after that discovery.
  • The first commercial Hep B vaccine (a plasma‑derived product called Heptavax‑B from Merck) was licensed and introduced in the United States in 1981.
  • In 1986, a newer recombinant Hep B vaccine (Recombivax‑HB) replaced the older plasma‑derived one in many places, becoming the standard in routine immunization programs.

So, when people ask “when was the Hep B vaccine introduced?”, they are usually referring to that key milestone year: 1981 for the first licensed commercial vaccine, with an important upgrade in 1986 that is closer to what is used today.

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