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Who should not get Hepatitis B vaccine?

Updated February 17, 2023


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According to the CDC anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of hepatitis B vaccine should not get another dose. Anyone with a severe allergy to any part of the vaccine, including yeast, should not receive the vaccine. People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the vaccine is scheduled should wait until they recover before getting hepatitis B vaccine. 

Twinrix (Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B combination vaccine) should not be administered to anyone younger than 18 years of age.  Pediarix (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis, Hepatitis B and Inactivated Poliovirus combination vaccine) should not be administered to anyone younger than six weeks or older than six years of age.  VAXELIS (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed, Inactivated Poliovirus, Haemophilus b Conjugate and Hepatitis B Vaccine) should not be administered to anyone younger than six weeks or older than four years of age. 

Also, information about contraindications (reasons why a person should not get a vaccine) to hepatitis B vaccine are contained in the manufacturer’s product information package insert that accompanies vials of vaccine provided to doctors and other medical personnel administering the vaccine. Links to the vaccine package inserts can be found on the hepatitis B Quick Facts page.

Recombivax-HB should not be administered to anyone with a history of allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to any component of the vaccine, including yeast. The vial stopper and syringe plunger stopper and tip cap contain latex, which can cause allergic reactions. Caution should be used in administering this vaccine to any premature infant due to the risk of apnea. As well, this vaccine should be delayed at least 1 month (or until hospital discharge) for infants weighing less than 2,000 g (4.4 lbs) if the mother is known to be hepatitis B negative. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies designed to evaluate Recombivax-HB in pregnant women. It is also unknown whether the vaccine is excreted in human milk and caution should be used when administering to nursing mothers. 

Engerix-B should not be administered to anyone with a history of an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to any component of the vaccine, including yeast. The tip cap of prefilled syringes contain latex, which can cause allergic reactions. Caution should be used in administering this vaccine to a premature infant due to the risk of apnea. As well, this vaccine should be delayed at least 1 month (or until hospital discharge) for infants weighing less than 2,000 g (4.4 lbs) if the mother is known to be hepatitis B negative here are no adequate and well-controlled studies designed to evaluate Engerix-B. It is also unknown whether the vaccine is excreted in human milk and caution should be used when administering to nursing mothers. 

Twinrix (Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B) should not be administered to anyone who has ever had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccine. Anyone who has a severe (life threatening) allergy to any vaccine component, including yeast and Neomycin, should not get the vaccine. The tip caps of the prefilled syringes contain latex and may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies designed to evaluate Twinrix. Caution is advised when considering administration of Twinrix to nursing mothers, as it is unknown whether the vaccine is excreted in human milk. Twinrix should be given with caution to persons with bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia or thrombocytopenia, and to persons on anticoagulant therapy. Twinrix should not be given to anyone under 18 years of age. 

Pediarix (DTaP, Hepatitis B, Inactivated Polio) should not be given to anyone who has had a severe reaction to a previous dose of diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, pertussis antigen, poliovirus or hepatitis B vaccine or a component of the vaccine, including yeast and neomycin or polymyxin B antibiotics. The tip caps of the prefilled syringes contain latex, which may cause an allergic reaction. Infants and children who developed encephalopathy (example - coma, seizures, and decreased level of consciousness) within seven days of a pertussis-containing vaccine should not receive Pediatrix. Also, any infant or child who developed a progressive neurological disorder, such as progressive encephalopathy, uncontrolled epilepsy and infantile spasms should not be given Pediarix. The manufacturer warns that if a fever of 105.7 F (40.5 C), collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode), persistent, inconsolable crying lasting three hours or more occurred within 48 hours, or if seizures (with or without fever) occurred within three days of a previous pertussis-containing vaccine, there should be careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks of giving Pediatrix. If Guillain-Barre syndrome occurred within six weeks of receiving a tetanus toxoid containing vaccine, careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks should be taken before administering Pediarix. Pediarix should not be given to anyone under the age of six weeks or over the age of six. 

HEPLISAV-B (adjuvanted recombinant vaccine) should not be given to adults with a history of severe allergic reactions to any previous hepatitis B vaccine, or any component of HEPLISAV-B, including yeast. HEPLISAV-B is approved for use in persons 18 years and older. Persons under 18 years should not receive HEPLISAV-B. 

VAXELIS (DTaP, inactivated polio, HIB conjugate, recombinant Hepatitis B) should not be administered to anyone with a history of a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of VAXELIS, any ingredient found in VAXELIS, or any other tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, pertussis-containing vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, inactivated poliovirus vaccine, or H. influenzae type b vaccine. VAXELIS should not be given to anyone who has suffered encephalopathy within seven days of a previous pertussis-containing vaccine with no other identifiable cause. Anyone with a history of progressive neurologic disorder, including infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy should not receive VAXELIS until a treatment regimen has been established and the condition has stabilized. Careful consideration should be given to the benefits and risks of VAXELIS before administering the vaccine to someone with a history of fever at or above 105 degrees F, a hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode, or persistent, inconsolable crying lasting more than three hours within 48 hours after a pertussis-containing vaccine, or who has suffered seizures within three days after a previous pertussis-containing vaccine. A causal relationship between tetanus toxoid and both brachial neuritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome has been determined by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). If Guillain-Barré syndrome occurred within 6 weeks of receipt of a prior vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, the risk for Guillain-Barré syndrome may be increased following VAXELIS. Apnea in infants born prematurely has been associated with the administration of intramuscular injections, including VAXELIS. Administration of this vaccine should only be considered after careful assessment of the infant’s health status, along with the potential risks and benefits of vaccination. VAXELIS is approved for use in infants and children 6 weeks through 4 years of age, prior to their fifth birthday. Infants younger than 6 weeks of age, and children 5 years of age and older should not receive VAXELIS. 

PREHEVBRIO should not be administered to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of hepatitis B vaccine or to any component of PREHEVBRIO. PREHEVBRIO is approved for use in person 18 years and older. PREHEVBRIO should not be administered to persons under the age of 18 years. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: NVIC encourages you to become fully informed about Hepatitis B and the Hepatitis B vaccine by reading all sections in the Table of Contents , which contain many links and resources such as the manufacturer product information inserts, and to speak with one or more trusted health care professionals before making a vaccination decision for yourself or your child. This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

 


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