The hepatitis B vaccine is typically given as a series of 3 doses over a 6-month period. The recommended schedule is:
- 1st dose at any time (newborns should receive this dose within 24 hours of birth)
- 2nd dose at least 1 month (28 days) after the 1st dose
- 3rd dose at least 4 months (16 weeks) after the 1st dose and at least 2 months after the 2nd dose
If doses are missed, you do not need to restart the series; just get the next dose as soon as possible and continue the sequence. Some accelerated schedules exist for people needing quicker protection, with doses given closer together, but the standard schedule ensures long-term immunity. Booster doses are generally not needed for most healthy people unless there is ongoing risk or reduced protection shown by blood tests. This schedule applies to infants, children, and adults, with special attention to newborns who must receive the first dose very soon after birth for best protection.
