Skip to content

Information on Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV)

Feature Topic
Information on Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV)
Information on Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV)
2022-10-21
Hepatitis B can be effectively prevented by immunisation.

After a 3-dose course of hepatitis B vaccination, babies born to mother infected with hepatitis B virus should receive post-vaccination serologic testing (PVST) to assess their immune response to vaccination and hepatitis B infection status. Please refer to the factsheet on “PVST” for more information.

(I) Who should get this immunisation?

According to the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, Hepatitis B Vaccine can protect recipients against Hepatitis B virus infection and its consequences of cirrhosis and liver cancer.  A series of 3 doses of the vaccine is necessary to ensure prolonged protection from infection.  The first dose is administered at birth in the hospital, the second and third doses are given in Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) at 1 month and 6 months of age respectively.

  • The Department of Health would offer Hepatitis B immunisation for students with either of the following 2 conditions:
    1. Students who have never received Hepatitis B immunisation ; or
    2. Students who have not received 3 doses of Hepatitis B Vaccine on schedule.
  • Students indicated for this vaccine should receive the vaccines according to the following immunisation schedule:
    • First dose: During school visit 
    • Second dose: 1 month after the first dose
    • Third dose: 5 months after the second dose
  • Students who have already received 3 doses of Hepatitis B Vaccines according to the immunisation schedule need not be vaccinated again.

(II) Students with the following conditions should not receive the vaccine

  1. Severe allergic reaction to yeast.
  2. Severe allergic reaction to any of the vaccine components or following previous dose of Hepatitis B Vaccine.


(III) Possible reactions after immunisation

Some children may have pain or local swelling at the injection site after immunisation. Some children may also experience from fatigue. Severe allergic reaction and significant side effects to Hepatitis B immunisation are rare.