What it means
An inactivated vaccine made from a piece of the virus's surface protein; it cannot cause infection. It is usually given as a series of two or three IM injections. In the US it has long been started at birth, and it is required for many health care workers. A newborn whose mother has hepatitis B also gets hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) soon after birth.
For the nurse
Give it IM, in the thigh for infants and the deltoid for older children and adults. Check the current CDC schedule, because US recommendations for the timing of the infant doses changed in 2025 and 2026.
At a glance
| Drug class | vaccine (inactivated, recombinant) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Engerix-B, Recombivax HB, Heplisav-B |
| Spanish | vacuna contra la hepatitis B |
| Also written | HepB vaccine, hep B vaccine, Engerix-B, Recombivax HB, Heplisav-B |
Related terms
vaccine
A product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
immunization schedule
The recommended timetable of which vaccines to give, at what ages and how many doses.